Norwegian whalers already exceeding last year’s death toll
According to reports from the Norwegian Fishermen’s Sales Organisation (Norges Råfisklag), whalers there have slaughtered another 13 minke whales in recent days bringing the total so far this season to 30 whales, which means they have now exceeded the total number killed at this stage last year (21 whales).
The Norwegian whaling season is in its second week and the three vessels are currently hunting off the coast of Finnmark.
Norway continues to hunts minke whales under ‘objection’ to the international ban on commercial whaling. Despite declining sales of whale meat within the country, Norway still sets its own quota (number of whales it will kill each year) and sells some of the meat to Japan.
However, recently, Japanese officials dumped a large consignment of Norwegian whale meat after routine tests revealed that it contained up to twice the allowed level of potentially dangerous pesticides.
