Iceland stops whale-hunting quotas after low demand - Reuters

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Iceland stops whale-hunting quotas after low demand
Fri Aug 24, 2007 7:16AM EDT

By Audbjorg Olafsdottir

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) - Nearly a year after ending its
ban on commercial whaling, Iceland will not issue new
whale-hunting quotas until market demand increases
and it gets an export license from Japan.

Iceland's fisheries minister, Einar K. Guofinnsson, told
Reuters this week it made no sense to issue new
quotas when the present quota period expires on
August 31 if the market for whale meat was not
strong enough.

"The whaling industry, like any other industry, has to
obey the market. If there is no profitability there is no
foundation for resuming with the killing of whales," he
said.

Iceland announced last year it would allow up to 30
minke whales and 9 fin whales to be hunted,
controversially ending a ban in place since 1986.

But they have killed just seven minke whales and
seven fin whales because of slack demand for whale
meat and products.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2460655320070824

[Vogon_Glory]

1. Marketplace Economics, Gov't Regulation, Either Way...

Whether the demand for whaling products sinks due to marketplace economics or because whaling is outlawed, either way I'm happy to see the whaling industry head towards extinction.

[sharp_stick]

2. Who eats whale meat these days?

Even in Japan the demand is down to nearly nothing. The Japanese Government is allowing whaling simply because there is a strong lobby among the whalers. The meat they collect from their so called "research kills" sits in freezers unused.

Whaling is an archaic and meaningless exercise now.

[phantom power]

3. Are whales tasty?

[Vogon_Glory]

6. The Mercury and Upper Food-Chain Toxins Makes It Especially Tasty! -eom-

[hatrack]

4. Damn you, Market Forces!

Damn you!!!

:evilgrin:

[razzleberry]

5. co$t of whale meat is ?

what cuts are available?

one T-bone serves how many?