Norways decision to dramatically increase its whale kill quota has angered anti whaling nations. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) reports this week that next year's quota will be increased to 1286. This is an increase of 45% from last year. However Norway killed only 484 Minke whales of its 885 quota this year. Norway and other anti-whaling nations are allowed to continue whaling despite the Whaling Moratorium under a legal loop hole. Although commercial and international trade in whale products is prohibited, Japan, Norway and Iceland together kill more than 2000 whales annually and this is increasing.
Norway's Whalers
Norway has been heavily criticised for the poor management of its whale stocks as demand for whale meat drops nationally. WDCS Chief Executive Chris Stroud said in a press release "Such a huge quota defies both logic and any pretence of claims of sound management. Norwegian whalers haven’t taken their full quota in years, as demand for whale meat has dropped and no one is buying.This is nothing more than the empty rattling of harpoons and it is clear the quota is being set for political show rather than anything else"
The timing of the Norway announcement by Oslo's fisheries Minister Libeth Berg Hansen at the Norwegian Minke Whalers Union, couldn't have been more poorly timed with International Whaling Commission (IWC) nations meeting to discuss the growing conflict between anti-whaling and pro-whaing nations and to reach a possible "deal".
Iceland's Whalers
Norway's neigbour, Iceland, is also angering the anti-whaling nations.This year, Iceland’s whalers have undertaken the biggest fin whale hunt in the North Atlantic for more than 20 years, killing 125 fin whales and more than 80 minke whales. WDCS reports that domestic demand for whale meat is almost nonexistant and the BBC revealed, in September, that Iceland plans to export thousands of tonnes of meat to Japan.
Japan's Whalers
While Norway ups it quota in the northern hemisphere, Japan's whaling fleet leave for their annual hunt in the Southen Ocean. Exact quotas set by Japan are unavailable and it is unclear if Japan has scaled back its hunt. Although in discussions with IWC nations, the start of its annual hunt gives a poor signal of its willingness to scale back and eventually end commercial whaling, say anti-whaling groups. In 2008, Japan's whalers killed 551 Minke whales in Antarctica. During the 2009 season this jumped to 679 and included one endangered fin whale. WDCS report that there is some 5200 tons of unsold whale meat in storage in Japan due to declining demand.
Commercial Whaling Moratorium
Commercial whaling was ‘banned’ in 1986, but member nations are allowed to continue under scientific whaling loop holes in the IWC. Since then over 30,000 whales have been killed by pro-whaling nations Japan, Iceland, and Norway and pressure is mounting for the ban to be lifted entirely. The conflict between pro-whalers and anti-whalers is set to continue for some time.
References
International Whaling Commission
Sarah Curran-Ragan - Science journalist and marine biologist, Sarah Curran Ragan, keeps you informed about our Oceans.
