18 Oct
2006 - Gland, Switzerland – Iceland has recently
announced that it would resume commercial whaling
despite an international moratorium for over two
decades.
Iceland has stated it is to
begin issuing licenses to whaling ships to hunt
fin and minke whales totalling nine fin whales
and 30 minke whales in the year ending 31 August
2007. WWF's understanding is that whaling ships
could resume commercial whaling imminently.
"By choosing to hunt endangered
fin whales, the Icelandic government is drawing
a line in the sand," said Dr Susan Lieberman,
Director WWF's Global Species Programme.
"Not only is this unacceptable
but it undermines the effectiveness of the International
Whaling Commission, as well as a decision made
in good faith by the international community over
20 years ago."
In 2003, Iceland resumed the
killing of whales in the name of "scientific"
testing. WWF disputes the need to use lethal means
to study whale anatomy or behaviour.
Fin whales were severely reduced
worldwide by modern commercial whaling and their
current status is poorly known in most areas outside
the North Atlantic. They are rarely encountered
in those areas of the Southern Hemisphere where
they were taken in large numbers. Today, the fin
whale is listed as "endangered" by the
IUCN-the World Conservation Union.
Whale watching has seen major
increases in numbers and economic value globally.
It is Iceland's fastest growing tourism sector.
The boom is whale watching generated approximately
US$8 million in 2002 in Iceland alone. A resumption
in commercial whaling could undermine this important
part of Iceland's economy, according to WWF.
"This is the thin edge
of a dangerous wedge and WWF implores the Iceland
government to step back," stressed Dr Lieberman.
"Whale stocks have not
yet recovered from the days of devastation from
hunting. Today, whales face newer, increased threats
such as from ship strikes, being caught and killed
in commercial fishing nets, and climate change."
"Do we really want to be
known as the generation that put politics before
good science and good ocean management and caused
needless species losses?"
Joanna Benn, Communications Manager - WWF Global
Species Programme
