Icelandic whalers kill first fin whales in four years
As feared, whale hunters in Iceland have slaughtered at least two fin whales, the first to be killed in four years. Hopes remain that the cruel practice will end in 2023 after the country’s Fisheries Minister, Svandís Svavarsdóttir cast doubt over its future a few weeks ago, saying that there is now little justification for authorizing…
Read MoreMajority of Icelandic people think whaling harms their country’s reputation
With the very real prospect of Iceland’s only fin whale hunter, Kristján Loftsson sending boats out to slaughter more whales before the hunts potentially end in just over a year, a survey of Icelandic people has confirmed that the majority believe whaling damages Iceland’s reputation. According to the new survey conducted by Maskína for the…
Read MoreJapan begins commercial whaling season
Japanese whalers have left port to begin this year’s annual hunt for whales and could kill up to 150 Bryde’s whales and 25 sei whales by the time the season finishes in mid-November. This year’s hunt is scheduled to begin on 13th of June with the whaling ship Yushin Maru No.3 and its mother ship…
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Norwegian whalers kill first minke whale of the season
Sadly, Norwegian whalers have killed the first minke whale this season. The whale was caught on Monday by the whaling ship Kato off the Finnmark coast. According to skipper Dag Myklebust, the whale was eight metres long and weighed around 1,700 kilos. In February, we reported that Bjørnar Skjæran, Norway’s new minister of fisheries had…
Read MoreIcelandic tourist board backs end to whaling
The man behind Iceland’s only fin whale hunting company has hit back at recent announcements from within the country that whaling could be ending for good, by hinting that he would like his whaling boats to go out again this summer. Kristján Loftsson, CEO of Hvalur hf. has announced to Icelandic media that he expects…
Read MoreHigh mercury levels found in slaughtered Japanese dolphin meat
According to reports from Japan, police there are investigating the sale of whale and dolphin meat containing potentially illegal levels of dangerous toxins. Action for Dolphins group say tests on samples of meat sold in the coastal town of Taiji reveal mercury levels up to 25 times higher that safe limits set by the government.…
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