Nordic nations resume whale meat exports

Iceland and Norway have resumed whale meat exports to Japan for the first time since the early 1990s despite a United Nations ban. Iceland has sent 80 tonnes of fin whale meat caught in the 2006 season, with Norway exporting 5 tonnes of minke whale meat. The shipment has already arrived in Japan. This latest news could lead to the suffering and death of even more whales.

The two Nordic nations and Japan do not recognise a ban on trade by the U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, saying it is a political decision and not made on scientific grounds. Both countries argue that the whales are plentiful in the North Atlantic and do not need protection but according to a new report just out, minke stock in Icelandic waters has declined by 24 percent since 2001. Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993 despite the IWC moratorium. It has set a quota of 1,052 whales for this season while Iceland has set a quota of 40.

Update 06.06.08
The whale meat recently sent to Japan is stuck in cold storage without an import licence and the Japanese embassy in Oslo have said that no import licences for the meat had been granted by Japan as of 5 June. Icelandic whaling company Hvalur, which sent the minke and fin whale meat to Japan, was not available to comment. The resumed exports come just weeks before an annual meeting of the IWC.

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