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Norway ups whale kill numbers and removes whale welfare protections

The whaling season in Norway has begun on the back of disturbing announcements from the...
Image taken from an unmanned hexacopter at >100ft during a research collaboration between NOAA/SWFSC, SR3 and the Coastal Ocean Research Institute. Research authorized by NMFS permit #19091.

Southern Resident orca petition to list them under Oregon Endangered Species Act advanced

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect...
Hysazu Photography

WDC and Conservation Partners Continue to Seek Oregon Endangered Species Protection for Southern Resident Orcas

On Friday, April 21st, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will determine whether the petition...
WDC Seal Rescue April 2023 (1)

WDC conducts milestone seal rescue in Marshfield

For Immediate Release, April 10, 2023 MARSHFIELD, MA - A young grey seal was found...

Iceland fin whale hunt season ends

According to reports from Iceland, the country’s latest fin whale season has ended with 137 fin whales dead, up from 134 last year. The hunting of minke whales will continue for a few more weeks although whalers have complained that bad weather has impeded the minke whale hunt this year.

Earlier this month, a demarche (high level diplomatic protest) against Iceland’s whaling was delivered by EU countries as well as US, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Israel, provoking a storm of defensive rhetoric from Iceland.

Since 2008, more than 5,540 tonnes of fin whale meat has been exported.  Iceland refuses to recognise the global ban on commercial whaling which came into force in 1986 and resumed commercial whaling in 2006.  It is likely that almost all the fin whale meat from the 2014 hunt is destined for Japan, despite a ban on international trade in fin whales under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Much of the minke whale meat on sale in Iceland is eaten by curious tourists rather than locals in the mistaken belief that whale meat is just another ‘traditional’ Icelandic dish. Instead, they are helping to keep this cruel industry alive.  WDC has helped to expose strong and ongoing links between fin whaling and Icelandic seafood giant, HB Grandi, which sells its products in Europe, the US and elsewhere. Recently too, WDC helped exposed the use of fin whale oil as fuel for the whaling vessels and the sale of fin whale jerky ‘dog treats’ in Japan.

Support our campaign to stop Iceland whaling.