Dutch authorities have agreed to close the country’s ports to ships transporting whale meat following an online campaign that garnered more than 1 million signatures from around the globe.
As the Grapevine reported last week, online activism website Avaaz.org had launched a petition urging the Dutch government to block ships transporting whale meat from accessing the country’s ports. With 1.13 million supporters, the petition appears to have done its duty, with the Dutch State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Sharon Dijksma, agreeing to work with the port authority in Rotterdam and with other ports in the EU to end the transfer of whale meat.
The Netherlands joins Finland and Germany in closing its ports to ships transporting whale meat, which was being shipped to Japan to be used in luxury dog treats, among other things. While the Japanese firm purchasing endangered fin whale meat for dog treats has reportedly ceased doing so after realizing that people weren’t cool with the idea of serving endangered animals to pampered pets, a lack of European ports through which to transport goods is likely going to be a thorn in the side of Hvalur hf and other whaling bodies.
So good news for online petitioners. Bad news for whalers.
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
