FIRST WHALE SLAUGHTERED IN ICELANDIC HUNT IN DEFIANCE OF INTERNATIONAL

FIRST WHALE SLAUGHTERED IN ICELANDIC HUNT IN DEFIANCE OF INTERNATIONAL OPINION Yesterday, Icelandic whalers made their first kill for over 14 years, slaughtering a minke whale for what they claim to be scientific purposes. WDCS, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, predicts that this will provoke a strong public reaction, that could have severe implications for Iceland's fisheries-based economy. Iceland's so-called scientific whaling programme has angered conservation-minded groups and individuals alike, who believe that it is just a front for a commercial whaling operation, designed to side-step the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling. In pursuing its whaling programme, Iceland is acting in defiance of international opinion and has ignored the advice of the IWC and the views of many of its scientists. WDCS believes that Iceland's campaign to resume commercial whaling under the guise of science is misguided, unfounded and poses a serious threat to whale conservation. WDCS has written to retailers in the UK, as well as in Germany and the US, that supply fish and seafood products sourced from Iceland, drawing their attention to Iceland's whaling activities and asking them to clearly identify products of Icelandic origin in their shops. "We believe the British public has a deep empathy for whales and we are conscious many will want to take active steps to ensure their protection." said Sue Fisher, WDCS's whaling expert. "WDCS has over 80,000 members, many of whom have written letters of protest to the Icelandic government and have expressed their anger and disapproval of Iceland's actions." WDCS believes this so-called scientific hunt to be the first step in a campaign leading towards the culling of whales in the name of fisheries management, as a front for resumed commercial activities. Finding a growing lack of support for their arguments that commercial whaling is an inherent right, pro-whaling countries, including Iceland, now argue that whale numbers may need to be reduced to preserve fish stocks. Mark Simmonds, WDCS's Director of Science, commented "This argument misses the point that abundant whale stocks and abundant fish stocks have co- existed through millennia. What is upsetting the equation is man. Whales are an integral and natural part of the healthy marine ecosystems." For more information, please contact Georgina Davies, WDCS Communications Officer on 01249 449 509 or 07787 516 635. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/08/19/20030819BIT00920/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/08/19/20030819BIT00920/wkr0002.pdf