Whaling in Norway
Whaling in Norway involves the hunting of the Minke whale for the purpose of using the whale meat for human consumption, generally in Northern Norway. This hunting has occurred since the early 20th Century[1], and some still continue the practice in the modern day.[2]
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[edit] History
Norwegian whaling has a history stretching at least one thousand years back.[3] New techniques in the middle of the 19th century however revolutionized whaling. In 1883, Norway was granted permission by the Icelandic government to build whaling stations in Iceland; and when the nearby whaling grounds were depleted, Norwegian whalers moved their activities to the Arctic, where whales were still abundant and the operations more lucrative.[4]
Recently, the Norwegian whaling industry has met increasing difficulties because of falling demand and weak recruitment. Norwegian anti-whaling groups seem to prefer to hold a low profile and watch over the slow death of the industry, instead of raising their voice and polarising the debate[5].
[edit] Current practice
Only Minke whaling is permitted, from a population of 107,000 animals in the North East Atlantic and is argued by proponents and government officials to be sustainable.[6] Still, it has been frequently criticized by the international community, environmentalists and animal rights groups as Norway, along with Iceland and Japan, is one of few countries that still allows whaling.
Norway registered an objection to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) commercial whaling moratorium, and is thus not bound by it[citation needed]. In 1993, Norway resumed a commercial catch, following a period of five years where a small catch was made under scientific permit. Norwegian Minke whale catches have fluctuated between 218 animals in 1995 and 646 in 2003.
During the decade immediately prior to the moratorium, Norway caught around 2,000 Minke whales per year. The North Atlantic hunt is divided into five areas and usually lasts from early May to late August. Norway has exported a limited amount of whale meat to the Faroes and Iceland. It has been attempting to export to Japan for several years and this was realized in 2009.[7]
In May 2004, the Norwegian Parliament passed a resolution to considerably increase the number of Minkes hunted each year. The Ministry of Fisheries also initiated a satellite tracking programme of various whale species to monitor migration patterns and diving behaviour. The tagging research program has been under way since 1999.[8]
Since 2006, when the Norwegian whaling quota was increased by 30%, Norwegian whalers have been allowed to hunt a quota of 1,052 Minke whales a year. Since the 1993 hunt resumption the Norwegian quota has rarely been fully met.[6]
| Year | Quota | Catch |
| 1994 | 319 | 280 |
| 1995 | 232 | 218 |
| 1996 | 425 | 388 |
| 1997 | 580 | 503 |
| 1998 | 671 | 625 |
| 1999 | 753 | 591 |
| 2000 | 655 | 487 |
| 2001 | 549 | 550 |
| 2002 | 671 | 634 |
| 2003 | 711 | 646 |
| 2004 | 670 | 541 |
| 2005 | 797 | 639 |
| 2006 | 1052 | 546 |
| 2007 | 1052 | 592 |
| 2008 | 885 | 484 |
[edit] Controversy
[edit] Opposition
Animal rights, environmental and anti-whaling groups have commented that given Norway's economic position it is paradoxical that this is one of a very small number of countries actively engaged in, and favouring the continuation of, commercial whaling. This is despite the argued negligible contribution that whaling makes to the economy, and despite opposition from around the world.[9]
According to documents released by WikiLeaks, US president Barack Obama, who promised to oppose whaling during his presidential campaign, used diplomatic channels to put pressure on Norway during his visit for the conferment of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize[10].
[edit] Support
Pro-whaling people have commented that it is a violation of sovereign rights to impose anti-whaling regulations on an independent state, and raise concerns about those nations' factory farming operations, which they see as considerably more harmful than whaling. Many supporters of whaling agree that its macroeconomic importance is negligible, but hold that the livelihood of individuals and small firms depend on it and that sustainable development depends on human harvesting of all non-endangered species,[11] and that it is an important part of culture in coastal areas[citation needed]. Arne Kalland argues [12] that international pressure against whaling is a form of cultural imperialism imposed on Norway. Norway's whaling today is limited to the Minke whale, which are killed using explosive penthrite grenade harpoons, which also accounts for more than 90% of the catch in Norwegian waters since the 1920s.
[edit] International Legal Status
Although non-endangered, Minke whales are protected; their commercial whaling is illegal under the IWC global moratorium of whaling, and illegally traded Minke whale meat is banned under CITES conservation laws[citation needed].
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/whaling/norwegian-whaling/
- ^ Norway, Embassy in Canada: Norwegian minke whaling
- ^ http://www.folkevett.no/tema/biomangfold-og-naturvern/spekk,-loegn-&-hvalfangst/
- ^ Húsavík Whale Museum, Iceland: History of Whaling.
- ^ Predicting a silent death for Norwegian whaling, article in Aftenposten, January 12, 2011.
- ^ a b Aftenposten Newspaper: Whaling quota draws fire
- ^ "政府、ノルウェー鯨肉も輸入承認 20年ぶり、ミンク5・6トン [Japan government permit to import whale meat from Norway first time in 20 years, 5.6 ton of Minke whale meat]" (in Japanese). 47 NEWS. Japan: Kyodo News. 28 February 2009. http://www.47news.jp/CN/200902/CN2009022801000630.html. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
- ^ "Norway. Progress report on cetacean research, January 2001 to December 2001, with statistical data for the calendar year 2001". International Whaling Commission. http://www.iwcoffice.org/_documents/sci_com/2002progreports/SC-54-ProgRep%20Norway.pdf. Retrieved 2006-12-03.
- ^ "Norway set to kill more whales". World Society for the Protection of Animals. http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/543_norway_set_to_kill_more_whales.cfm. Retrieved 2006-12-04.
- ^ Used Obama visit to criticise Norwegian whaling, article in Aftenposten, January 12, 2011.
- ^ http://www.iucnredlist.org/search
- ^ 2009 Unveiling the Whale. Discourses on Whales and Whaling. Oxford/New York: Berghahn Books, 253 pp.
[edit] External links
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Wikisource has original text related to this article: |
- Official Norwegian minke whaling: Norwegian Government environmental policy site explaining Minke whaling policy (English).
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