The information available state that the ambassadors have handed over a joint declaration to Iceland’s the Fisheries Minister. Sigfússon told that he knew the attitudes of these states and there were no threats involved. He added that they have discussed many things besides commercial whaling. Sigfusson opined that the ambassadors for example raised awareness of the fact that roughly half of all tourists who come to Iceland come from these seven nations.
It is said that Sigfússon’s predecessor Einar K. Gudfinnsson issued a new quota on fin whales and minkes shortly before he left his post and Sigfússon is considering revoking his decision. The minister has also met with representatives of whaling companies and others who support commercial whaling to listen to their views on the matter. Last week the majority of MPs in parliament have signed a parliamentary resolution that commercial hunting of fin whales and minkes be continued with quotas issued for periods of five years as per the recommendations from the Icelandic Marine Research Institute.
It is fact that Iceland is a small player compared to the world’s most active whaling nations, the United States, Canada, Japan, Norway and Greenland, based on statistics from the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
