A number of environmentalist groups are calling upon the Obama administration to exercise sanctions against Iceland for the practice of commercial whaling.
Last July, an investigation conducted by The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) showed that Hvalur hf – Iceland’s whaling company – has been commercially hunting endangered fin whales, and then exporting the meat to a company in Japan owned by Hvalur’s president, Kristján Loftsson. It showed furthermore that fishing company HB Grandi is linked to Kristján and Hvalur hf.
In the wake of these findings, officials within the Obama Administration have hinted at imposing sanctions against Iceland over the matter.
Now the EIA is publicly urging the Obama administration to do just that.
“There is a line in the sand that Iceland has just crossed,” said Allan Thornton, President of the Environmental Investigation Agency. “The Icelandic killing of fin whales is illegal and its illegal export of whale meat will lead to further illegal killing of fin whales. Only U.S. sanctions against fish imports by the seafood company linked to Iceland’s whaling company will stop this environmental crime.”
The US president has until September 17 to make a decision and report it to Congress.
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