It was banned for several weeks, but now comes the setback: whaling is now allowed again in Iceland. But only under strict conditions.
A group of experts has concluded in a report that it is possible to improve fishing methods for hunting large whales, the Icelandic Ministry of Food and Fisheries announced on Thursday. The Ministry therefore believes that changes in working methods can contribute to higher animal welfare. We now need a regulation that sets detailed and stricter requirements, for example for fishing equipment and supervision of the practice.
This means that Icelandic whalers can hunt the animals again from Friday. Food and Fisheries Minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir put an end to that in June, just before the first ships left for this year’s hunting season, by deciding to temporarily suspend whaling until August 31. Svavarsdóttir justified the move at the time with doubts as to whether hunting marine mammals is compatible with animal welfare. According to an inspection report from the Icelandic Veterinary Authority, the killing of the animals took longer than allowed last season.
heated debate
The North Atlantic island of Iceland is one of the few countries in the world where whales are still hunted commercially. Since the temporary halt, Icelandic politics had debated the issue, sometimes vehemently. At the same time, rejection of the practice grew among the population, Icelandic broadcaster RÚV reports based on surveys. The current marine mammal hunting license is valid until the end of the year.
Whale conservationists had hoped that Svavarsdóttir’s decision in June could put a permanent end to Icelandic whaling. “We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the Icelandic government to allow whaling again after the temporary ban,” said Astrid Fuchs of the whale and dolphin conservation organization WDC. Hunting whales can never be humane, she complained. “We will keep fighting until the brutal killing ends.”
Leonardo DiCaprio also got involved
Even Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio has recently brought up the subject. “The Icelandic government should support the will of the majority of Icelanders who now want to stop whaling forever,” the Titanic star wrote on his Instagram Story on Tuesday, where he was followed by more than 60 million people – on the occasion of the 150th anniversary – on Tuesday times the total population of Iceland.
Source: Krone
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