IcelandIceland resumed ordinary commercial whaling in October 2006 after a 20-year hiatus. Permits were issued for taking nine fin whales and 30 minke whales. The permits are valid until August 2007. In 2006, seven fin whales and one minke whale were harvested for commercial purposes. Iceland holds a reservation to the whaling moratorium, which means that the moratorium does not apply to the country. When Iceland joined the IWC in 2002 it promised to not start commercial whaling before 2006. Iceland also promised to not authorise commercial whaling while progress was being made on developing a management regime within the IWC, called the Revised Management Scheme (RMS). The IWC formally halted these negotiations in June 2006. The Icelanders also takes minke whales for scientific purposes. Since the start of the program in 2003, a total of 161 minke whales have been taken for research purposes. The program will continue in 2006 with a planned take of 39 minke whales. Much of the research can take place in conjunction with the ordinary commercial catch, so the need for specific research catches are thus reduced. Ultimately, it is expected that the scientific whaling program will be reduced, but not the amount of research obtained through the programme. Further information: IWC note on Iceland Questions
and Answers (The Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries) Print
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