Posts Tagged ‘Iceland’
Visiting Iceland? How to ensure whales are saved and not served up
Tourism to Iceland is definitely booming! A recent article in Al Jazeera which has been widely picked up by other media, both within and outside Iceland, boasts the headline: ‘tourism boosts Iceland’s whaling industry’. The article goes on to say that last year, Iceland welcomed a record 1.8 million visitors, an increase of 40% on…
Read MoreWhale beer: really scraping the bottom of the barrel
In what is starting to feel like an alcoholic version of Groundhog day, it is time for the annual farce that is the – mercifully short – ‘whale beer’ season in Iceland. The beer is brewed to sell during Þorri (Thorri), the Icelandic midwinter festival which runs from mid-January to mid-February. Whilst there’s undoubtedly some…
Read MoreWhy minke whale meat is far from traditional in Iceland
I was really sorry to see minke whale meat included in a recent list in the Icelandic press of ‘top delicacies that are favourites amongst locals’. The author starts by exorting readers to “forget about the fermented shark used to shock tourists” but after listing lamb, local bread and freshly-caught fish, ends with a dish…
Read MoreHow your restaurant order can save whales!
We are fortunate to have A-level student, Xavier Tobin, working with us as a volunteer with the Stop Whaling team. Here, Xavier introduces some new resources which ask visitors to whaling regions not to be tempted to eat whale meat or purchase whale products during their stay. I am currently working with WDC (Whale and…
Read MoreSo how was the IWC for you?
So IWC66 ends with a celebration of whale-themed ties, which, believe it or not, was won by a Japanese delegate. He was sporting a bright Moby Dick themed tie. so I guess that, as it’s a whaling themed tie, the individual concerned may be allowed back into Japan’s Far Seas Fisheries building where their whaling…
Read MoreDay Five of IWC 2016
Agenda Item 19 Finance and Administration The meeting opens slightly late due to technical difficulties. Bruno: regarding yesterday’s Agenda, I forgot to confirm that all delegates are happy for the Commission to endorse cooperation with other organisations? (General assent). Also apologizes to IGO/NGOs that he was ‘a little too fast’ in closing yesterday. The Chair…
Read MoreDay Three (afternoon) of IWC 2016
Agenda Item 10 Cetacean Habitat 10.1 State of Cetacean Environment (SOCER) The Chair of the IWC Scientific Committee, Caterina, highlights elements of the Franciscana Action Plan. The Committee recommends that the stabilisation of the Brazilian dam is urgent and highlighted the critical need to adopt knowledge from disasters, such as deep–water accidents and to share…
Read MoreDay Two of IWC 2016
This is meant as a brief update on progress and hurdles this morning at IWC66 in Slovenia. We shall update when we get another gap between sessions. IWC66/09 South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary The day started badly for the whales when the Schedule Amendment that would have established the South Atlantic Sanctuary (#SAWS) was defeated with…
Read MoreCan fin whaler persuade Japan to take his haul?
Well, well, well. Just as I was wondering whether we would ever confirm the Winter Bay’s recent cargo, and darn me if fin whaler, Kristjan Loftsson, doesn’t helpfully step in to provide the answer. Regular blog readers may recall that back in August, I posted news of our discovery that the Winter Bay – the vessel used last…
Read MoreHow to ensure whaling becomes a family tradition
So what lies at the roots of whaling policy in Japan and Iceland? Is it some sense of national identity? Is it some true altruistic desire to feed their countrymen? Or is it something else? For many observers, the continued certainty of Iceland’s last few whalers’ desire to keep a dying whaling industry alive is,…
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