Iceland has a long tradition of subsistence
whaling; whaling of one form or another has been conducted from the island since it
became populated more than eleven hundred years ago. The early reliance on whales is reflected in
the Icelandic language: hvalreki is the word for both "beached whale" and
"jackpot".[1]
Whaling history
- See also: History of whaling
Modern whaling in Iceland began in 1883, although whaling has been a part of the Icelandic
culture since it was settled by Scandinavians and other Nordic peoples in the 9th century. By 1915,
17,000 whales had been taken from Icelandic waters, mostly due to excessive whaling by Norwegian
fishermen. The Icelandic Government banned whaling in its waters to allow time for
population recovery. The law was repealed in 1928.
By 1935, Icelanders had set up their own commercial whaling operation for the first time. They
hunted mostly Sei, Fin, and Minke Whales. In the early years of this operation, Blue,
Sperm, and Humpback Whales were also hunted, but
this was soon prohibited due to decimated numbers. Between 1935 and 1985, Icelandic whalers killed around 20,000 animals in
total. Because of this history Icelanders have been able to successfully portray their hunting of whales as selfsustaining and
responsible, just as their fishing policy is today. At the same time it is often pointed out by Icelanders that the nations that
are mostly responsible for decimating the whale stocks in the oceans and are now ardent opposers of any hunting, sustainable or
not, are often in bad shape with their current fishing policies, which is often unsustainable and with fish stocks in dire
situations. Thus Icelanders are wary of these nations telling them what to do and see it as snobbery and a sign of how out of
touch they are from nature.
International Whaling Commission
Beginning in 1990, Iceland abided by the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling.
Unlike Norway, Iceland did not take a reservation
against the IWC moratorium, which came into force in 1986. Between 1986 and 1989 around 60-80 Fin
Whales and a smaller number of Sei Whales (both listed as Endangered) were taken each year under a scientific permit. However,
under strong pressure from anti-whaling countries, viewing scientific whaling as a circumvention of the moratorium, Iceland
ceased whaling altogether in 1989. Following the 1991 refusal of the IWC to accept its Scientific Committee's recommendation to
allow sustainable commercial whaling, Iceland left the IWC in 1992.
Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002 with a reservation to the moratorium. This reservation is not
recognized by a number of anti-whaling countries[citation needed]. The issue is a fine point of international law. Countries are allowed to take reservations to international treaties or agreements,
in which they simply state that they disagree with a particular point and refuse to abide by it. However, the reservation must be
lodged as the international treaty, or in this case moratorium, comes into effect. Norway, a fellow member of the IWC, promptly
stated its reservation and its continued whaling is considered proper under international law. In contrast, from 1986 to 1991
Iceland did not state a reservation to the moratorium. After leaving the IWC, it then rejoined with a reservation, taking the
position that the departure and re-entry had "reset" its international obligations under the IWC and that it could take a
reservation, as if it were the first time it was affected by the moratorium. Opponents of whaling argue that legal reservations
do not work this way and that Iceland cannot take a reservation once it has accepted it.[citation needed]
As a requisite for readmission to the IWC, Iceland had also pledged to wait until 2006 before resuming commercial whaling.
In 2003 Iceland resumed scientific whaling. Iceland presented a feasibility study to the 2003
IWC meeting to take 100 Minke, 100 Fin, and 50
Sei in each of 2003 and 2004. The primary aim of the study was to deepen the understanding of
fish-whale interactions; the strongest advocates for a resumed hunt are fisherman concerned that whales are taking too many fish.
The hunt was supported by three-quarters of the Icelandic population. Amid concern from the IWC Scientific Committee about the
value of the research and its relevance to IWC objectives, no decision on the proposal was reached. However under the terms of
the convention the Icelandic government issued permits for a scientific catch. In 2003, Iceland took 36 minke whales from a quota
of 38. In 2004, it took 25 whales (the full quota). In 2005, the
government issued a permit for a third successive year, allowing whalers to take up to 39 whales. As with other countries'
scientific whaling claims, Iceland's was disputed widely by environmental non-governmental organizations like Greenpeace. Their claims have though been widely ridiculed at least in Iceland, because it is impossible to
properly establish the eating habits of whales without looking into their stomach content. Groups like Greenpeace are widely seen
as public enemy number one in Iceland, as one such, the Sea Shepherd, was found responsible
for the only terrorist attack ever in the country.
Resumed commercial whaling in 2006
In October 2006 the Icelandic government issued licenses for a commercial whale hunt in
addition to the continuing scientific program.[2] Iceland
had pledged not to resume commercial whaling until 2006 when presumably talks about sustainable whaling would be completed. The
talks had not come to a resolution thereafter, and are instead stalling due to the differences between those who want to resume
whaling and those who do not.
Over the twelve-month period ending in August 2007, Icelandic whalers have been authorized by
the Icelandic government to hunt and sell 30 Minke Whales and 9 Fin Whales.[3] Iceland broke the IWC
moratorium on commercial whaling on 21 October 2006 after
Icelandic whalers caught a Fin Whale.[4] Iceland has
claimed an exemption to the moratorium through the reservation made in 2002.
25 nations delivered a formal diplomatic protest (called a "demarche") to the Icelandic
government on 1 November 2006 concerning resumed commercial
whaling. The protest was led by the UK and signed by nations including the
US, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Finland and Sweden[5].
Kristján Loftsson, owner of the whaling company Hvalur (Icelandic for
Whale) which had to diversify from its main industry for the past 20 years, has stated that there is no reason they can't
continue hunting whales for eternity by sustainable management of the hunting. The company's whaling boat, Hvalur 9, has caught
seven Fin Whales since the government authorization, but has ceased hunting for the year due to bad weather and little daylight.
Loftsson also indicated that he planned to export the meat to Japan as neither Iceland or Japan
are subject to a trade ban, although Claire Sterling, of the International fund for Animal Welfare, said that Japan has
officially stated that it would not be buying Icelandic whale meat.[6] As Japan does not have any laws against such import it will not hinder such an import. As of 1-21-07
Hvalur hf. has not sold or exported any of the Fin whale meat that it caught in September - October 2006, awaiting results from
toxicology tests.
Icelandic whaling since the suspension of commercial whaling
Whales taken under Special Permit (scientific whaling)
| Year |
Fin Whale |
Sei Whale |
Minke Whale |
Total |
| 1986 |
76 |
40 |
0 |
116 |
| 1987 |
80 |
20 |
0 |
100 |
| 1988 |
68 |
10 |
0 |
78 |
| 1989 |
68 |
0 |
0 |
68 |
| ... |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2003 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
37 |
| 2004 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
25 |
| 2005 |
0 |
0 |
39 |
39 |
Sustainability
Although fin whales are considered endangered on a worldwide basis, that is not the case in Icelandic waters.[7] Their numbers in the ocean around the island have grown to a
stable level. The Fin Whale population in the North Atlantic was estimated to be 23,000 in 2001,
and the estimated population of Minke Whales in the North Atlantic in 2001 was said to be around 67,000 in the North Atlantic
central stock region with 44,000 in Icelandic waters. According to the Icelandic Marine Research Institute the taking of up to
150 Fin Whales and up to 400 Minke Whales a year in the Icelandic resources jurisdiction is sustainable.[8] The Icelandic government has allowed the taking of 9 Fin Whales (6% of the
number approved by the institute) and 30 Minke Whales (7.5%) until the end of August
2007.
Commercial Aspects
In 2004, only a quarter of the whale meat taken by the Icelandic whaling fleet was actually sold.[citation needed] A recent poll of Icelanders by
anti-whaling interests found that only 1% of the population eats whale meat once a week or more, while 82% of 16 to 24 year-olds
never eat whale meat.[9]
Notes and references
See also
- International Whaling Commission
- Whaling
External links
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