The Norwegian authorities have taken the unprecedented step of extending
the whaling season a second time, through to 31st October.
The Norwegian minke whaling season was initially due to close at
the end of August. However, the season was extended to the end of
September when, despite measures designed to make hunting easier,
including new regulations lifting the maximum quota per vessel,
authorities realised that the full quota of 796 minke whales would
not be reached.
So far this season 639 whales have been killed. The season is being
held open because there is still at least one vessel interested
in killing more whales, in an attempt to fulfil the quota.
Philippa Brakes of WDCS said: “The Norwegian whaling season started
a month early, and has now been extended twice. Even with three
extra months added to the season it seems that the whalers are having
great difficulty in fulfilling the quota. This raises several questions.
Are the whalers having difficulty finding the whales? Is there,
despite concerted efforts to stimulate the whale meat market, difficulty
in selling the meat? Whatever the answer, this casts significant
doubt over claims by Norway that the quota must continue to be increased,
since this will be the fourth year in a row that the quota has not
been met.” Source: WDCS
