HelpingAnimals.com // Travel

Iceland Resumes Commercial Whaling

Whale Hunt On October 17, defying a worldwide whaling moratorium that took effect in 1986, Iceland Minister of Fisheries Einar K. Gudfinnsson issued permits allowing whalers to kill nine endangered fin whales and 30 minke whales by August 31, 2007.

Iceland claims to have resumed whaling for “sustainable development,” but the country is likely planning to export whale meat to pro-whaling nations, such as Norway and Japan. According to a recent Gallup poll commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, 82.4 percent of Icelanders ages 16 to 24 never eat whale meat, and only 1.1 percent of Icelanders eat whale meat once a week or more.

Much of the world is opposed to the cruel and unnecessary killings. Ambassadors from 26 countries and the European Union Commission signed a diplomatic statement (known as a demarche) condemning the killings. The demarche was delivered to Iceland’s foreign and fisheries ministries, but Iceland does not have plan to stop whaling.

Save the Whales!

Happy Whale You can help save whales now by contacting the Icelandic Tourist Board and The Icelandic Travel Industry Association and asking that they put an end to whaling in Iceland:

Magnús Oddsson, General Director
Icelandic Tourist Board
Lækjargata 3
101 Reykjavík
+354 535 5500
+354 535 5501 (fax)
modds@icetourist.is

The Icelandic Travel Industry Association
Borgartúni 35
105 Reykjavík
+354 511 8000
+354 511 8008 (fax)
info@saf.is

Many other conservation and animal protection groups are working hard to stop the slaughter of whales. For more information about their efforts and to find out what else you can do to help, please visit the following organizations’ Web sites:

The Sea Shepherd Society
World Society for the Protection of Animals