IFAW Objects To Fin Whale Meat Shipment

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) objects to an expect 1,700 tonnes of fin whale meat heading from Iceland to Japan as a “bloody trade”.

In a new post on the IFAW website, they point out that the ship Winter Bay, registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis, has been docked in Hafnarfjörður for some time now as it contends with mechanical problems. However, the ship will soon depart for Japan with whale meat that the IFAW contends no one actually wants to buy.

“Icelanders don’t even eat fin whale meat yet these endangered whales continue to be killed because of the actions of one businessman intent on resuscitating the whale meat trade,” Patrick Ramage, Global Whale Programme Director for IFAW, said. “[Whaler Kristján] Loftsson seems determined to go ahead despite the huge cost to him and the reputation of his beautiful country. When there is still a huge unused and unwanted stock of whale meat from last year, we urge him to abandon plans to harpoon more whales this summer.”

Last year, efforts on behalf of both Greenpeace and the IFAW forced ships containing Icelandic whale meat to be turned away from several ports of call on their way to Japan. Similar actions are expected to be in the works this year.