They will be able to continue their activities until 2029. Icelandic whalers have obtained agreement to continue this controversial fishing for another five years. A decision that is misunderstood locally, the sector is in fact losing momentum and a majority of the population is now opposed to this practice.
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Once fond of whale meat, Icelanders are now opposed to its fishing. For the first time last year, a majority of them declared themselves against this practice. This has not stopped the current government fromIcelandthe only country with Norway and Japan to authorize whaling, to extend the authorization granted to two of its whalers.
They will be able to continue harpooning for five more years. In Iceland, the permit authorizes the annual catch of 209 fin whales – including 48 in an area which is not in fact frequented by fishermen – and 217 Minke whales (also called minke whales) per season, which extends from mid-June to September, the government announced.
A decision all the more contested as the Icelandic executive has resigned. He is only supposed to manage day-to-day affairs since he lost the parliamentary elections last week. “ Democracy is not respected and the issuance of the permit harms the interests of climate, nature and animal welfare “, protested in a joint statement the Icelandic Environment Association and the Young Environmentalists. The sector of whaling has also been singled out for its methods, including the use of explosive harpoons that leave animals to die for hours.
This decision causes even more of a stir because it comes at a time when Paul Watson is still imprisoned in neighboring Greenland. The activist known worldwide for his actions in defense of whales is still waiting behind bars to determine his fate.
He risks extradition to Japan, at the request of Tokyo, which accuses him of an attack on a Japanese whaling ship. THE Japanwhich with Norway and Iceland, is one of only three countries in the world to continue to authorize this fishing.
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