MP: We Need To Reassess Whaling - MP and leader of the Left-Greens Katrín Jakobsdóttir has said Iceland needs to reassess whaling

MP and leader of the Left-Greens Katrín Jakobsdóttir has said Iceland needs to reassess whaling

MP and leader of the Left-Greens, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, has said Iceland needs to reassess whaling and evaluate to what extent the Icelandic economy benefits from the practice, reports Vísir.

Katrín also criticised Minister of Finance Bjarni Benediktsson for his statement in response to Iceland’s exclusion from the Our Ocean, sustainable fishing conference. In his criticism of the U.S, Bjarni wondered which nation had the moral high ground, when the U.S still had the death penalty.

“I think Icelanders need to review whaling activities and assess just what the benefits are for the economy given that whale meat has not been selling well and consider an environmental and ethical viewpoint in regards to how whales are hunted,” Katrín said. “I think it would have been more productive to discuss the issue than try to frame the right to whale in the context of the U.S’ capital punishment practices.”

Katrín says that while she strongly opposes the death penalty and supports the government’s criticism of it she did not feel that the two issues were comparable.

“We need to put this issue on the docket and consider whether or not we are satisfied with the status quo,” Katrín said. “In light of the fact that there is little economic gain and that several points have been made regarding how the animals are killed, I think that it could do us some good to address this issue at home.”