Watch, not hunt

The Whale Watching Association of Iceland has issued a statement of protest against the upoming hunting of 50 minke whales scheduled for this summer. In addition, they have asked that there be no whale hunting in whale watching areas, as they believe this undercuts their livelihood.

A particular point of contention for the group is the plan put forth by the Icelandic Sea Resarch Institute to the International Whaling Commission in 2003, when Iceland sought to hunt 200 minke whales for scientific purposes. If 50 minkes are hunted this summer, this quota will then be finished, but the Whale Watching Assocation counters that 200 fin whales and 100 sei whales were also slated to be hunted in the 2003 plane, and have not yet none had been.

The objections raised by the Whale Watching Association has been supported by a number of tourist groups, including the Icelandic Tourist Board. It should be noted that while tourism is one of Iceland's major industries, whaling depends on government subsidies to stay in operation, whether for scientific purposes or not.