Iceland's renewed whale hunt: Environmentalists sound alarm
Iceland has issued new hunting permits for whales that will be in effect for the next few years. However, the regulations include certain restrictions on the number of hunts allowed and the species that can be hunted.
According to the BBC, Iceland is implementing new rules allowing whale hunting until 2029. Under the issued permit, during one hunting season, which runs from June to September, 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can be caught.
Other whale species will remain protected to prevent their extinction. The Icelandic government explains that implementing such regulations will help " regulate the predictability" of hunting volumes, which will allow for better management of these animal populations.
They will kill whales. Activists criticise
The decision, however, has met strong criticism from environmental protection organisations and animal rights activists. According to the BBC, the Icelandic Association for Animal Rights and Environmental Protection stated that issuing such permits by the government constitutes a serious violation of interests related to climate protection, biodiversity, and animal welfare.
Sharon Livermore, a representative of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, criticised Iceland's decision, claiming it was made under the influence of "a few wealthy whalers" who have significant influence over the local authorities. Livermore called this decision "controversial" and "rash," indicating that it could lead to further destruction of whale populations in the region.
Whale hunting for commercial purposes is not limited to Iceland. In other parts of the world, such as Japan and Norway, these practices are also carried out.
In fact, the new regulations in Iceland aim to align with principles prevailing in Norway, which has conducted whale hunts for years, particularly to obtain their meat, fat, and oil. Although these practices are legal in some countries, they spark enormous controversy among ecologists, who emphasise the dangers they pose to the health of marine ecosystems and the planet itself.
Activists fear that Iceland's decision may set a precedent that encourages other countries to disregard international whale protection standards and strengthen the commercial trade of their parts.
