Iceland has killed its third whale. The Icelandic government had expected criticism for its decision to resume commercial whaling after a 21-year ban but fisheries minister Einar Gudfinnsson dismissed suggestions the killings would hurt tourism. In an interview that took place as a third fin whale was killed off the country's west coast, Einar Gudfinnsson added that Iceland was not targeting threatened species. Reykjavik last week announced it would catch nine fin whales, it has since caught three fin whales. Sweden, Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the European Union have condemned the step.

Gudfinnsson said he was not surprised that countries widely known to be against whaling would take issue with Iceland's decision, but was dismissive of the threat to tourism. He said that Iceland was expecting a negative response but doesn't think that other industries, such as tourism, will suffer in the long term.

The Marine Connection urges members of the public not to visit Iceland until the country stops whaling again. Some whale-watching firms have reported cancellations in the wake of Reykjavik's step. The Icelandic government has also set a quota of 30 minke whales during the whale hunting season that lasts until August 2007.

Iceland has since 2003 also conducted a scientific whale hunting programme, of the scientific quota, 39 minke whales remain to be caught. Japan has, like Iceland, conducted scientific whale hunting under provisions offered by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) while Norway resumed whaling of minke whales, the smallest of the seven great whales, in 1993. Minke whales are up to 11 metres long, and can weigh about eight tonnes.

The fin whale is the second largest of the seven great whales. They are up to 24 metres long, and can weigh between 45 and 64 tonnes. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has listed the fin whales on its red list of threatened species.