International Outrage as Iceland Resumes Whaling 8/6/2003
From: Christopher Cutter of IFAW US, 508-744-2066; Gill Sanders of IFAW UK, 0207 587 6714 or 07801 613524; Andreas Dinkelmeyer of IFAW Germany, 040 866 500 15 or 0173 622 7539; http://www.ifaw.org WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW- http://www.ifaw.org ) said today it is outraged by this morning's announcement by the Government of Iceland that it will return to whaling after a 13-year hiatus. IFAW, other leading conservation organizations and governments worldwide expressed shock at the announcement, made earlier today by the Icelandic Fisheries Ministry at a hastily called meeting of diplomatic ambassadors in Reykjavik. The Ministry announced it will resume whaling this month, with plans to kill 38 minke whales in August and September, using the pretext of scientific research to sidestep the global ban on commercial whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1986. The decision comes following harsh criticism of Iceland by member countries of the IWC at the commission's most recent meeting in Berlin, Germany in June. Seventeen countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico and Germany have previously filed formal objections to Iceland's refusal to recognize the whaling ban. The move ignores recent international efforts to strengthen conservation measures for whales in the IWC and worldwide. "Iceland has a great deal to lose by going whaling," said IFAW President Fred O'Regan. "Its fast growing whale watching industry, currently worth around $8 million a year, is likely to suffer as a result. "There is absolutely no scientific basis for these whales to be killed. Whales already face constant threat from pollution, entanglement in fishing nets, habitat loss and other dangers." The U.S. government has also today aired strong opposition to Iceland's decision. U.S. IWC Commissioner Roland Schmitten said today, "The United States is extremely disappointed with Iceland's decision to begin a lethal research whaling program. We have a long-standing policy of opposing lethal research whaling and do not supports Iceland's decision to resume whaling." Conservationists predict that the Icelandic economy will suffer as a result of today's announcement. Eco-tourism to Iceland has increased dramatically in recent years, and whale watching has taken off as one of the most popular tourist pastimes in the country. The industry, which began in the country in 1995, now brings in some $8 million per year to the Icelandic economy, according to the Icelandic Whale Watching Association, with 40 per cent of all overseas visitors to Iceland taking part. A nationwide poll taken in the United States this May by Market Strategies, Inc. showed 81 percent of American voters oppose commercial whaling while more than half of all American voters (58 percent) would be willing to boycott Icelandic products and stop buying Icelandic fish if Iceland returned to whaling. Editors: For more information visit http://www.ifaw.org. |