This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ced896w96w3o
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iceland issues permits allowing whale hunting until 2029 | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The permits allow 426 whales to be caught during each whaling season | The permits allow 426 whales to be caught during each whaling season |
| Iceland has authorised whale hunting for the next five years, despite welfare concerns. | |
| Under the new permits, 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can be caught during each year's whaling season, which runs from June to September. | |
| Animal rights and environmental groups have denounced the move by Iceland's outgoing conservative government. | Animal rights and environmental groups have denounced the move by Iceland's outgoing conservative government. |
| But an official notice for the permits said the licences ensured "some predictability" for the industry, while limits to the number of whales that can be hunted had been set based on advice. | But an official notice for the permits said the licences ensured "some predictability" for the industry, while limits to the number of whales that can be hunted had been set based on advice. |
| The country is one of only three in the world that still allows whaling - where whales are hunted for their meat, blubber and oil - along with Japan and Norway. | |
| Only fin and minke whales are allowed to be hunted off Iceland, while other whale populations are protected. | Only fin and minke whales are allowed to be hunted off Iceland, while other whale populations are protected. |
| Permits are normally delivered for five-year periods, but the previous ones expired in 2023. | Permits are normally delivered for five-year periods, but the previous ones expired in 2023. |
| The shortened 2023 season, which lasted three weeks, saw 24 fin whales killed. The quota covered a total of 209 whales. | |
| What is whaling and why's it controversial? | What is whaling and why's it controversial? |
| Whale hunting resumes in Iceland under strict rules | Whale hunting resumes in Iceland under strict rules |
| In the same year, whaling was suspended in Iceland for two months after a government-commissioned inquiry concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws. | In the same year, whaling was suspended in Iceland for two months after a government-commissioned inquiry concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws. |
| Monitoring by the government's veterinary agency showed that explosive harpoons were causing whales prolonged agony. | Monitoring by the government's veterinary agency showed that explosive harpoons were causing whales prolonged agony. |
| The Hvalur, Iceland's only remaining active whaling ship, had instead been reliant on licence renewals on an annual basis. | The Hvalur, Iceland's only remaining active whaling ship, had instead been reliant on licence renewals on an annual basis. |
| Iceland's environment association said the issuing of news permits "violates the interests of the climate, of nature and of the well-being of animals". | Iceland's environment association said the issuing of news permits "violates the interests of the climate, of nature and of the well-being of animals". |
| Sharon Livermore, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare's marine conservation programmes, said: "The few wealthy whalers of the country continue to exert their influence even in the dying hours of this interim government. | Sharon Livermore, director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare's marine conservation programmes, said: "The few wealthy whalers of the country continue to exert their influence even in the dying hours of this interim government. |
| "This government should simply be holding the fort, but instead it has made a highly controversial and rushed decision." | "This government should simply be holding the fort, but instead it has made a highly controversial and rushed decision." |
| Iceland's ruling Independence Party lost out to the centre-left Social Democratic Alliance in snap elections on Saturday. | Iceland's ruling Independence Party lost out to the centre-left Social Democratic Alliance in snap elections on Saturday. |
| The Icelandic government notice, external said the total allowable catch followed advice from the Norwegian Fisheries Agency, "which is based on sustainable use and a precautionary approach". |