During the six-month season a total of 40 minke whales may be hunted, informed Asda Einarsdottir, a member of Iceland’s fisheries ministry. She also said that unlike last year, no fin whales will be hunted. As it is a part of Icelandic culture which contain a lot of emotions in these matters, but it is confirmed that there is no whaling from endangered stocks.
It was in October 2006, Iceland resumed whale hunting for commercial purposes nearly two decades after the International Whaling Commission outlawed the practice in order to preserve dwindling populations. Last year Iceland ended whaling for research, which is permitted by the IWC and has been undertaken by other whaling nations, including Japan.
Foreign Minister Ingibjoerg Solrun Gisladottir in a statement states that the hunt is sacrificing long-term interests for short-term gains. Hanne Lyngwinter, an ocean campaigner at the Copenhagen office of Greenpeace, told that there are enough threats as it is, what with global warming. Iceland resumes commercial whaling after the IWC failed to establish rules for sustainable whaling.
From whaling Iceland’s fishing industry makes up about 60 percent of exports and most of the whale meat is sold for local consumption, opined Einarsdottir.
