Victory! U.S. Seeks to Impose Sanctions on Iceland for Whaling Industry

Following the annual International Whaling Commission conference, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is using the Pelly Amendment to impose sanctions on Iceland for engaging in whale hunting. The law states that a country in violation of global conservation standards for fisheries is eligible to receive economic sanctions.

Many thanks go out to the more than 11,000 Change.org members who signed Greenpeace’s petition pressuring Secretary Locke to take action against Iceland.

The IWC imposed a moratorium on whaling back in 1984 to protect whale populations from threat of extinction. Iceland, Norway and Japan continue to hunt whales despite the ban in place. U.S. officials are particularly concerned with Iceland because the country has increased its fin whale quota to levels that scientists believe threaten the species' survival, and the industry is trying to create new markets for fin whale meat.

In a statement regarding his decision, Secretary Locke noted: “It's critical that the government of Iceland take immediate action to comply with the moratorium." Now it is up to President Obama to decide the level of economic and diplomatic sanctions that will be imposed on Iceland.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society applauds the move. “It is time for stronger steps to be taken against Iceland's expanding commercial whaling program and WDCS is extremely pleased that the Commerce Department has decided to listen to public opinion and take action,” said Katie O’Connell.

News reports during the week-long IWC conference focused on the two main challenges to overcome in order to end whaling in Iceland: 1) the industry is closely tied to commercial fishing and 2) in Iceland, whaling is synonymous with the company Hvalur.

The intense pressure in Iceland to keep whaling legal comes from Hvalur. Despite virtually no market for whale meat in Iceland, the head of Hvaulr, Kristijan Loftsson, continues to kill whales for export to Japan. Whaling has taken a hit this year due to the tsunami in Japan, which prompted Loftsson to postpone the summer fin whale hunt. The minke whale hunt continues and so far 38 minke whale have been killed.

So what happens to the whale meat Hvalur sells in Iceland? Tourists. This stems from the look-and-cook combination of whale-watching followed by a sampling of the meat. Visitors to Iceland are lead to believe that the dishes presented to them are traditional Icelandic foods. To dispel this myth, International Fund for Animal Welfare has taken to Iceland to present their “Meet Us, Don’t Eat Us” campaign.

Unfortunately Loftsson has not taken the time to study the magnificent mammals he readily kills. On more than one occasion he has said that whales are just another fish. He appears immune to those critical of his industry. Instead, pressure needs to come from an economic basis. Sanctions are just one step.

As I reported a few months ago, many retail shops and restaurants in Great Britain get their fish from companies partnered with Hvalur. Without even realizing it, when consumers buy fish caught by companies like HB Grandi, it translates into the support of whale slaughter.

Avoiding consumption of whale meat and refusal to purchase fish products from companies in league with Hvalur will send the message that whale slaughter is no longer tolerated.

Sign the petition letting fish wholesalers know you will not buy their product as long as it is tainted with whale blood.

Photo Credit: Börkur Sigurbjörnsson