Whale hunts are now well underway off the coasts of Norway and Iceland. Whaling ships left Iceland on the 27th April and have so far killed four piked whales (more commonly known as Minke whales). Norway officially started their whale slaughter a few weeks ago but reportedly the ships didn't leave until recently, taking 23 piked whales in just the last couple of weeks.
European whale slaughter in full swing
Norwegian whaling ship processing a dead piked whale
Although whaling was banned by the International Whaling Commission in 1986, Norway, Iceland and Japan continue their illegal activities to this day. Norway re-started their commercial whaling program in 1994 and currently sets the world's highest kill quota for their hunters. The hunt expanded this year with 3 boats to a total of 21. The quota is set at 1286 animals, though it is expected that due to a decline in popularity for whale meat, it is unlikely all of the quota will be caught.
Iceland opened their commercial hunt in September 2006 with nine endangered fin whales on its self-appointed quota. Last year 148 fin whales were killed and most of them illegally exported overseas. During August 129.6 tonnes of frozen whale meat was sold to Japan with an estimated value of 1.35 million euro. Currently only a handful of organisations are actively opposing Europe's ongoing whale slaughter.
"It is an outrage that the waters in Europe are increasingly turning red with the blood of these defenseless animals. Especially since the region is home to some of the most outspoken anti-whaling nations in the world" said Teed Arvidsson, of The Black Fish Sweden.
The Black Fish is a fierce opponent of the continued whaling operations in Europe. "Although we are a very small organisation, when resources will allow in future, we aim to take direct action to stop these senseless killings" emphasises Arvidsson.
Bron: The black fish
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