Press release - 2 June, 2004
The Icelandic government will put their so called scientific whaling programme on hold and limit this years take to 25 minke whales.This is as close to a victory as we could have hoped for, said Greenpeace spokesperson Frode Pleym.
The Icelandic government will put their so called "scientific"
whaling programme on hold and limit this years take to 25 minke
whales. The planned take of 500 whales, including sei and fin
during a 2 year period, have been cancelled, due to a strong
domestic criticism combined with the lack of a market for whale
products.
A total of 36 minke whales have been caught since last year when
Iceland, despite massive global protests, resumed whaling again for
the first time in 14 years. (1)
-This is a step in the right direction, said Greenpeace
spokesperson Frode Pleym. The Government of Iceland has made a wise
decision, that will benefit the Icelandic people in the future. By
choosing a truly sustainable future path, Iceland sets an example
for other whaling nations to follow.
The market for whale meat is small and decreasing in whaling
nations Iceland, Norway and Japan due to changed eating habits and
the level of environmental toxins in the whale products. Iceland
still has an ample supply of whale meat left since last years take
and no future market in sight.
The growing domestic opposition also came as a surprise to the
Government. The Icelandic tourist association and the whale
watching operators have made it clear that a restart of whaling in
Iceland will damage the reputation of the nation and decrease the
amount of tourists visiting. Tourism has become one of the major
sources of income in Iceland in recent years and whale watching
attracts around 72,000 tourists yearly and is worth more than $14.6
million USD a year to the Icelandic economy.
- Greenpeace will keep following the whaling issue until the
Icelandic government puts a final stop to this industry of the
past. The Greenpeace ship MV Esperanza will visit Iceland again
this summer and we will be campaigning at the annual IWC-meeting in
Italy in July for the moratorium on whaling to be respected, said
Pleym.
Last autumn Greenpeace launched an offer to the Icelandic
Government showing the clear economic and environmental gain in
choosing sustainable tourism over whaling. By taking a pledge
people worldwide pledged to consider a vacation in Iceland if
whaling was stopped. Today over 50 000 people have taken the pledge
representing 58,3 million USD in tourism value versus 4 million USD
from commercial whaling at its peak. (2)
Notes: (1)http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/features/details?item_id=406738&campaign;_id=(2) Through the Greenpeace website and other communications to our supporters, we ask people around the world to participate in protecting vulnerable areas and species through appropriate opportunities, including visiting Iceland. Read more on www.icelandwhalespledge.com