Conservation groups in the US are mad. They'd like to remind Iceland that it is in violation of the 1986 International Whaling Commission (IWC) agreement that bans commercial whaling, and the 1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which bans international commercial trade in whale parts and products.
Around 19 different conservation and animal welfare groups which represent millions of citizens are calling on US government secretaries Gary Locke and Ken Salazar to invoke the Pelly Amendment, which "authorises the president to impose trade sanctions against another country for 'diminishing the effectiveness' of conservation agreements."
This would be bad news for Iceland, which exports large quantities of cod and haddock to the United States. Icelandic fisheries are directly tied into the whaling industry, with many fishermen fishing during one season, and whaling during the off season.
"According to reports, the conservation and welfare groups have identified specific Icelandic companies as potential targets for trade sanctions; these include major seafood industry players that are directly tied to Iceland’s whaling industry."
On a semi-related note, Iceland is currently in the process of applying to the European Union, in which whaling is illegal. Will the seafaring nation of Iceland finally leave this scandalous piece of history behind?
Full article here (FishUpdate)
Ugh, I certainly hope they can be convinced to stop whaling. Maybe when populations are back to sustainable, pre-whaling levels, there can be regulated whaling... but not with population levels the way they are now.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I'd rather not have any whales killed, if it's going to be done anyway, it might as well be done right.