Whaling 'directed at abundant stocks'
Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson
Setja bókamerki
Whaling in Icelandic waters is directed only at abundant whale stocks according to a statement from the government of Iceland. The stocks in question are North Atlantic common minke whales and fin whales. The government stresses that the whaling is science-based, sustainable, strictly managed and in accordance with international laws as in the case of other living marine resources in its waters.
The European Union and the governments of the United States, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Monaco and New Zealand earlier this month protested the fact that the Icelandic government still permits commercial whaling, in particular the hunting of fin whales and the subsequent trading of fin whale products.
The government highlights that Iceland is not the only country that catches whales as the same goes e.g. for the United States, Russia, Norway, Japan and Greenland. As in the case of Iceland their whaling operations are legal and in accordance with the rules of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The government also stresses that neither of the two species that Iceland harvests qualify for any of the IUCN threatened categories.
Within accepted values of sustainability
"Iceland has always emphasised the need for careful conservation of marine resources and was one of the first countries in the world to take a conservationist approach to whaling. As signs of overexploitation of whales by foreign nationals emerged early in the last century, Iceland declared a ban on whaling for large whales around Iceland in 1915. Whaling was not resumed until 1948, except for limited catches from 1935 to 1939. Strict rules and limitations were applied to whaling in Iceland from 1948 to 1985 when commercial whaling was halted again following a decision by the IWC," the statement reads.
Limited catch for scientific research then began in 2003 in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (IWC Convention), but commercial whaling was resumed three years later.
"According to recent whale surveys, there are around 20,000 fin whales and at least 30.000 common minke whales in the East Greenland-Iceland Jan Mayen stock area. The recommended catch limits of both species are less than 1% of these stocks, well within the generally accepted values for sustainable catch rates of whale stocks," the statement further reads.
See also: 137 fin whales caught
