Posts Tagged ‘Whaling’
New report reveals 100,000 dolphins and small whales hunted every year
When you hear the words ‘dolphin hunts’ it’s likely that you think of Japan or the Faroe Islands. Although they are complicit in the deaths of many thousands of individuals, they are sadly and probably surprisingly, not the worst offenders. I knew that dolphins and small whales were being hunted in many countries all over…
Read MoreMinke whale hunts stop in Iceland
Iceland’s commercial hunt of minke whales has ended for this year. The common minke whale is the main species targeted by Japan, Norway and Iceland when they undertake ‘scientific’ and/or commercial whaling. Iceland has continued to kill whales despite the International Whaling Committee’s ban on commercial whaling, using loopholes and its much-disputed move to take a so-called ‘reservation’ in 2002. Out of a quota…
Read MoreDoubts remain after Icelandic Marine Institute claims slaughtered whale was a hybrid not a blue
Experts remain sceptical of initial test results issued by the Icelandic Marine Institute, which indicate that a whale controversially killed just a few days ago by whalers was a blue/fin hybrid, not a pure blue. Blue whales are a protected species even in Icelandic waters but hybrids are not and, despite their equally rare status,…
Read MoreDid Icelandic whalers really kill a blue whale?
*Warning – this blog contains an image that you may find upsetting* They say a week is a long time in politics. Well it also feels a long time in whale conservation! A great deal has happened since we circulated a press release on July 11 which stated that Icelandic whalers, out hunting fin whales…
Read MoreIcelandic whalers breach international law and kill iconic, protected whale by mistake
Icelandic whalers out hunting fin whales for the first time in three years appear to have killed a rare, protected blue whale (or blue/fin hybrid) by mistake. Images documenting the slaughter of what is an iconic symbol of the natural world have deeply concerned international whale experts and confirm the indiscriminate and cruel nature of…
Read MoreAustralian Government to block Japanese whaling proposal
Japanese Government officials have reportedly confirmed that they will propose the resumption of commercial whaling at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC – the global body that regulates whale hunts) in September. Australia and other anti-whaling nations are now set for a showdown with Japan at the IWC meeting, which will be…
Read MoreJapan set to resume commercial whaling
Reports from Japan suggest that the government they will formally propose plans to resume commercial whale hunting at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC – the global body that regulates whale hunts) as, according to Japanese government representatives, some whale populations have become large enough to justify the killing. Japan currently gets…
Read MorePregnant whales once again a target for Japanese whalers
Figures from Japan’s whaling expedition to Antarctica during the 2017/18 austral summer have revealed that 122 out of the 181 female minke whales killed were pregnant. In total, 333 whales were hunted with 152 males and another 53 immature females making up the number. Japan claims to carry out the hunting for so-called “scientific research” in defiance of international…
Read MoreEnd the whale hunts! Icelandic fin whaler isolated as public mood shifts
Here’s a sight I hoped never again to witness. A boat being scrubbed and repainted on Reykjavik harbour will generally arouse little attention from passing tourists, but this is different and far more chilling. This is the Hvalur 8. It is a fin whaling vessel and it is being readied to return to the high…
Read MoreIcelandic fin whale hunting to resume
Iceland’s only fin whaling company, Hvalur hf, announced today that it will resume fin whaling on June 10th after a break of two years. As many as 161 fin whales could be killed, and the tally may even reach over 200 fin whales if the whalers also decide to exploit a second quota of 48 fin…
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