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UK lodges official objection to Iceland's continued hunting of endangered whales

Whale coming up for airThe Icelandic Government has agreed to review and reassess its position on the hunting of whales. 

To show support for this move, the UK has joined with Governments from around the world to present Iceland with a demarche, officially objecting to the Icelandic Government’s increase in hunting of fin and minke whales. Both of these species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I.

In January 2009, the former Icelandic Government took the decision to authorise an increase in the hunting of fin and minke whales over the next five years.  The authorisation was put into place without presentation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 

In June 2009, the Icelandic Marine Research Institute recommended a further increased quota of up to 200 fin and 200 minke whales for the 2009 / 2010 season.  To date almost 200 whales have been killed without regard to the long term interests of cetacean conservation.  The demarche urges the new Icelandic Government to respect the IWC’s ban on whaling and safeguard these species from international trade.

Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:

“I welcome the Icelandic Government’s review of the increased hunting quota for minke and fin whales set by the previous administration.  

"However, I am extremely disappointed to hear that nearly 200 whales have been taken so far this year and sincerely hope Iceland will follow the internationally agreed ban on whaling which the UK strongly supports and has encouraged other countries to sign up to.”

Further information

 

Page last modified: 06 October 2009
Page published: 06 October 2009