Iceland will hunt whales again. In a small number, only of a species that is not in danger of extinction and with strict regulations to comply with the new animal protection law... but it will once again allow whaling. Two months after the Icelandic government itself signed a moratorium or temporary prohibition at the request of a commission of experts, the executive has decided to reopen the season and the hunting season will begin on September 1.
As it could not be otherwise, various conservation groups, in Iceland and internationally, have reacted with harsh criticism of the government. A few hours after the Icelandic executive confirmed the publication of the new whaling regulations, the group Hvalavinir-Stop whaling in Iceland called a demonstration in the port of Reykjavik and published a note stating: "Today is a sad day , Svandís Svavarsdóttir, Minister of Food, did not take the opportunity she had to stop whaling and Kristján Loftsson [Icelandic whaling entrepreneur] has a free hand to go fishing again tomorrow the 1st".
This anti-whaling group protests against the decision taken by the Icelandic government because, in their opinion, "most of the nation is not being heard, animal welfare is not being protected, nature is not being protected, not the protection of nature and the ecosystem of the ocean and the fight against climate change is respected"
The Icelandic government approved on Thursday, August 31, a new regulation for the controlled hunting of whales in its waters. The regulation will enter into force on September 1 and, according to the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, it will include all the requirements for the protection of animal welfare indicated by the commission of experts created by the executive itself to analyze whether whaling is adjusted to the new Icelandic animal protection law.
According to the official note of the Icelandic government, the new regulation [of which the details are not known at the time of writing this news] will force to comply with strict rules on animal welfare.
Official note published by the Government of Iceland on August 31 (original in Icelandic and English, unofficial translation):
"Today, the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, will publish a new Regulation aimed at improving the framework for Fin Whaling. The Regulation comes in response to the results of the 2022 control report of the Food Authority and Veterinary Science of Iceland on fin whaling, the opinion of the Animal Welfare Advisory Council and the report of a working group on evaluating ways to decrease the number of irregularities involved".
"Taking into account the information available from the Food and Veterinary Authority and the Animal Welfare Advisory Board, the Ministry's conclusion was that it was not possible to carry out fin whaling in full compliance with the Whaling Act and the Animal Welfare Act.. In response to this, the decision was made to delay the scheduled start of the whaling season to September 1. This would allow time to examine whether improvements could be made, but the Council's opinion Advisor was that it was difficult to see how hunting methods could be improved Taking into account the interests of the whaling license holder, the time for delay was reduced as much as possible, while leaving some scope to look for ways to reduce irregularities during hunting".
"In July 2023, a working group consisting of experts from the Food and Veterinary Authority and the Directorate of Fisheries was created. The task of the group was to assess ways to reduce irregularities during hunting. The working group returned its report on August 28 and part of his opinion is that it is possible to improve the methods used to hunt large whales."
"The opinion of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, referring to the report of the working group, is that there is a basis for making changes in the method of hunting that can lead to the reduction of irregularities during hunting and therefore , to improve animal welfare".
"A Regulation will be issued that will include detailed and stricter requirements for hunting equipment and methods, as well as increased supervision. The conditions include training coverage, educational measures, hunting equipment and hunting methods."
"The Ministry wishes to point out that the report of the working group notes that there are still several unanswered questions about the possible functionality and effects of electricity during the killing of whales and therefore the Regulation does not include provisions on such equipment."
"The aforementioned Regulation establishes that the Food and Veterinary Authority and the Directorate of Fisheries will work together to supervise whaling. It is expected that these organizations present a report to the Ministry at the end of the whaling season, summarizing the main results of the supervision of whaling in 2023".
