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	HIGH NORTH ALLIANCE N-8390 Reine i Lofoten, Norway. Tel.: (+47) 76 09 24 14. E-mail:hna@hna.no
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Iceland resumes whaling
High North News 06.08.2003
The Government of Iceland today announced the resumption of whaling.
The head of Ocean Harvest, an organisation working for the sustainable use of whales, Jon Gunnarsson, said it was extremely positive that Iceland’s “pause” in whaling had come to an end. “This is a positive move for nations who are committed to the conservation and sustainable use of whale resources for food. Iceland has always been, and always will be, a whaling nation. The fact that our pause in whaling is now coming to a halt is good,” he said. According to Iceland’s announcement, 38 minke whales will be taken in Icelandic waters this autumn for scientific purposes. Iceland’s Ministry of Fisheries said: “The main objective of the research is to gain knowledge on the role that minke whales have in the marine ecosystem, especially their interaction with fish stocks.” The Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission agreed a population estimate of 43,000 minke whales in Icelandic waters and that a take of 100 animals per year is unlikely to have a significant impact on that population. The 38 minke whales will be taken in accordance with a scientific programme submitted to the Whaling Commission earlier this year. Rune Frovik, the secretary of the High North Alliance, said: “There will probably be an outcry by animal rights activists against Iceland, saying that this move will tarnish Iceland’s image abroad, that Icelandic trade will suffer and that tourists will stop visiting the country. Experience shows that there is nothing to fear – the outcry will last for only a short period and this will work out fine.” Iceland stopped catching minke whales in 1986 when the moratorium on commercial whaling came into force. However, it continued to take fin and sei whales for scientific purposes until 1989. For more information:
Declaration by the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries to conduct a research plan for whales
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