| Tuesday, 24 October 2006 09:43 |
Dear Tami,
Despite worldwide outcry and a ban on whaling in place since 1986, Iceland, like Japan, continues to kill whales using cruel methods, saying it's for “scientific” purposes.
But now the government of Iceland has gone even further, launching a commercial whale hunt for the first time in more than two decades, a hunt that has already killed several endangered fin whales.
In order to have the most impact, please be courteous in your letter.
Permits have been granted by Iceland's Ministry of Fisheries for the hunting of 30 minke whales and nine endangered fin whales. In fact, whaling ships have already killed their first two endangered fin whales. Iceland already hunts whales for so-called “scientific” purposes, exploiting an IWC loophole – though the meat from the whales killed for “science” is sold commercially within Iceland.
Yet few Icelanders eat whale meat regularly (only 1.1% of Icelanders eat whale meat once a week or more, Gallup poll); and there is limited, if any, world market for the meat. Furthermore, a growing number of jobs in Iceland depend on the increasingly popular whale-watching industry.
Watch the latest video of Iceland's cruel killing of endangered fin whales. Warning: Video contains graphic footage that may not be suitable for all viewers
Iceland's unique nature has attracted millions of tourists who increasingly visit Iceland to see whales in their natural environment. IFAW has worked hard in recent years to help promote Icelandic whale watching and other forms of tourism. This dangerous move to resume whaling puts all of that at risk.
A flagrant disregard for international agreements to protect whales
Scientists have long agreed that there's no need to kill whales in order to study them. What's worse, whale meat has been proven to contain dangerously high levels of mercury, even though it is sold in supermarkets, restaurants and even school cafeterias in Japan. But even Japan has publicly announced it will not import the fin meat from the Icelandic hunt.
There is no market, domestic or international, for this meat, and no facility in Iceland to process it. These whales have died unnecessarily. Commercial whaling is an outmoded, unnecessary and cruel industry that should have ended a century ago with the use of whale oil lamps. The government of Iceland should be supporting its nation's thriving and growing whale watching industry rather than sinking money and political capital into the resumption of cruel whale hunts.
It's quite rare for Iceland's embassy to receive an outpouring of public comments on a political issue. That's why it's not too late to have an impact! Please send a message today to protest Iceland's terrible decision to resume commercial whale hunting.
Thanks for all you do,
Fred O'Regan
President and CEO
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