International media reported back in August that Iceland will not issue new whaling permits for commercial whaling next season due to a “ lack of markets and demand”. Unfortunately for the whales , the Icelandic Government did a turn –around some weeks later and extended the commercial whaling season to November 1st , allowing whalers to kill the 23 minkes from last years quota.
It’s unclear what caused the turn-around , but according to the Foreign Minister “ whaling is a matter of compromises” . The Foreign Minister is herself opposed to whaling.
According to the Minke Whaler’s Association ,
The hunting did go well and the purchase of whale meat has never gone better since the resumption of whaling in 2003. All meat from the 45 minkes that have been killed during 2007 has been sold out and no more whale meat will not be available in the stores until next spring when commercial whaling starts again. ( Note this is VERY surprising that the Whaler’s Association states that commercial whaling will resume again next season).
Icelandic export market to Japan
In an article that has been published on mbl.is , is an agreement on export of whale meat from Iceland to Japan soon finished. Probably it’s about whale meat from last year’s hunt as well as from future hunts. This announcement comes from an interview with the Icelandic Fisheries Minister and a Japanese news agency.
According to the Whaler’s Association “ one should welcome the decision that Iceland and Japan have agreed on to resume trade in whale products , as there seems to be a market in Japan. In this interview it’s again stated that whaling permits will be issued for the next season, which resumes in the middle of of next year. However, the quotas will only be issued if there is a market.
Tourist industry
The Icelandic tourist numbers increased despite worries that commercial whaling should have a negative impact on numbers. From a report from the Icelandic Tourist Council , has never so many tourists visited Iceland as this summer. Despite of threats from NGOs.
In the first 9 months of this year, 379 000 tourists arrived to Keflavik Airport. This is an increase with 16,5 %. This is contrary to the prognosis that the tourist industry and the NGOs made. So it seems like commercial whaling has had no negative impact on tourism?
The Icelandic Minke Whaler’s Association makes finally this statement , “ they who claim that we sacrify bigger interests ( whale watching, my note) for lesser( whaling) , must now reconsider their arguments. Whalers claim as well that whaling has made Iceland more familiar and famous? for tourists , that’s why there has been an increase in numbers of tourists.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.