WWF urges Iceland to abandon whaling plans
Date: 04-Apr-03
Country: SWITZERLAND
Despite decades of protection, seven of the world's 13 great whale species remain at risk, including the Fin and Sei whales which Iceland is seeking to catch, according to the Swiss-based conservation group.
Iceland, which has not hunted the marine mammals since 1989, said last month that it would apply to the International Whaling Commission to catch 250 large whales each year for research.
The commission, which requires members to present detailed research plans before such permits are granted, will discuss the request at its annual meeting in June.
There is a long-term moratorium in force on all commercial whaling.
In a statement, WWF condemned Iceland's announcement saying that there was no scientific need for it and that the real aim was to sell whale meat.
"This is a needless proposal based on a lack of scientific necessity or legitimacy," said Dr Susan Lieberman, director of WWF's species programme. "If this whaling goes ahead it is clear it is for commercial purposes."
WWF said that Iceland had made clear its real intentions when Fisheries Minister Arni Matthiesen said that Iceland was seeking an agreement with Japan for the export of those parts of the whale catch not needed for research.
Iceland refused to sign up to the 1986 commercial whaling moratorium and stormed out of the IWC a decade ago over the ban. But it stopped whaling in 1989 amid international pressure and rejoined the IWC last October.
