Iceland to Resume Fin Whale Hunt, but With New Rules to Reduce Suffering
Reykjavik, Iceland – Iceland’s government announced on Thursday that it would resume commercial whaling after a two-month suspension. The decision comes with new guidelines aimed at reducing the pain and suffering of whales.
Iceland has taken new measures to speed up whale killing-Image Source: Sky News
Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006 after a 20-year hiatus. In June 2023, the government suspended the practice after a report found that whales were often not killed quickly enough after being harpooned, sometimes taking hours to die.
The new guidelines include more stringent requirements for equipment and methods, as well as increased oversight. Whalers will be required to complete a training course on whale biology and pain perception, and they will be given detailed instructions on how to use harpoons to ensure a quick and humane kill.
“We are committed to ensuring that whaling is carried out in a humane and responsible manner,” said a spokesperson for the Icelandic Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. “The new guidelines will help us to achieve this goal.”
The International Whaling Commission, a global body that oversees the conservation of whales, imposed a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986 after some species were brought to the brink of extinction. Iceland, along with Norway and Japan, are the only countries that continue to hunt whales for commercial purposes.
Animal rights groups have criticized the Icelandic government’s decision to resume whaling, arguing that it is cruel and unnecessary. They say that there are more sustainable ways to obtain meat and other products from whales.
It remains to be seen how the new guidelines will be implemented and whether they will be effective in reducing the pain and suffering of whales.
