Norway whale hunt in full throttle

Norwegian whalers have killed at least 20 whales since the 2007 whaling season opened on April 1st, above the numbers that had been killed by this same time last year. Seven vessels are currently operating in the waters off Finnmark, Nordsjoen and Vestfjorden, and more are expected to join in the hunt.

According to the Norwegian Rafisklaget (The Norwegian Fishermen's Sales Organisation), sales of whale meat are now underway. In an effort to boost turnovers, whalers and whale meat buyers are each being charged 50 ore per kilo of whale meat, to go towards the marketing of minke whale meat to consumers (see www.hvalbiff.no). Although a minimum price offered to whalers was set at 29.5 kroner/kilo by the organization, whaling captain Jan Kristiansen of the vessel Jan Bjorn was offered 36 kroner/kilo for the three whales he delivered to the John Arntzen fish company in Skrova this past week.

Harald Dahl, Sales Director of the Rafisklaget, has been quoted in the Norwegian press as saying that the market is “crying out” for whale meat. In response, WDCS's Sue Fisher stated that, “Whilst the Norwegian market might be “crying out” for whale meat, the whales themselves are literally crying out. Whaling is inherently inhumane.” Norway has replaced national inspectors with the so-called ‘Blue box’ on all vessels conducting whaling, and the boats are only subjected to occasional ‘spot checks’ by roving inspectors. Sue Fisher continued, “This lack of human oversight during the hunts and the fact that the ‘Blue box’ is not equipped to collect data on the welfare of hunted whales shows Norway’s disregard for animal welfare concerns.”

WDCS has learned that three new whaling vessels have joined the Norwegian fleet this year, bringing to a total of 32 the number of boats that have been issued with whaling permits by the Fisheries Directorate; however, not all vessels with whaling licenses participate in the hunt. For 2007, the allowance in mainland coastal waters has been increased to 900 minke whales, up 30% from 609 in 2006, while the Jan Mayen quota has been reduced to 152 whales.

Despite an international ban on commercial whaling, Norway has continued to hunt minke whales in the North Atlantic since 1993 through a legal ‘objection’ lodged against the ban. Norway has raised its self-allocated quota year after year, despite international condemnation of its commercial whaling. Lowered demand last year led to a shut down mid-season due to a glut of whale meat on the market Interest in buying whale tends to start high, and then wane throughout the season.

For more information and details about how you can join WDCS's campaign to stop commercial whaling for good go to: www.stopbloodywhaling.org

Source: Fiskeribladet, Lofotposten, Rafisklaget/ WDCS