Off the Map Travel says no to whale meat

In line with their partnership with WDC, Off the Map Travel have now started sending information on how to avoid whale meat to all of their customers.

Despite bans on commercial whaling, Iceland, Norway and Japan kill around 2,000 whales between them each year. In places like Iceland, whale meat is sold regularly in restaurants in popular tourist destinations. The percentage of tourists consuming whale meat in Iceland has plummeted from 40% in 2009, to 12% last year, but is still often sold as an exotic ‘must try’ food in these areas. As a result, visitors purchase it without realising the incredibly negative effect that this trade causes.   

WDC partner, Off the Map Travel, are the first UK-based tour operator to fully adhere to WDC’s guidelines regarding responsible whale and dolphin watching, and are also now taking steps to ensure that their customers are clued up about whale meat before visiting countries in which it is likely to be sold.

Off the Map have recently confirmed that, as part of the new digital welcome package, every customer of theirs will be sent a copy of WDC’s factsheet about how to avoid whale meat whilst travelling in certain destinations. Off the Map will also routinely send out an email to alert all customers that their online itineraries are ready, and to ask that all relevant fact sheets for their trip are printed out and read before travelling. 

 

“Protecting these amazing creatures for generations to come is an important task for all of us. Choosing not to eat whale meat is one of the ways in which our customers can help to ensure this and the WDC factsheet provides a very clear and easy way to understand the positive impacts of this choice for all.” – Jonny Cooper, Off the Map Travel.

This change will help to increase awareness, not only for people actively choosing whale watching trips, but for all Off the Map customers who may be visiting locations where whale meat could potentially be available in restaurants.

Vanessa Williams-Grey, who works on WDC’s Stop Whaling campaign, commented: “It is fantastic to see Off the Map Travel supporting WDC’s longstanding campaign to educate tourists visiting whaling regions not to be tempted to sample whale meat whilst on holiday. Their assistance in making our information sheets available to all their clients is much appreciated; it’s great to be working with them on this outreach campaign”

Off the Map Travel also make a contribution to WDC’s important work for each whale watch trip booked. You can find out more about responsible whale watching trips with Off the Map, by visiting https://www.offthemap.travel/whale-watching-holidays/