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| Iceland 'breaks ban on whaling' | Iceland 'breaks ban on whaling' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Iceland has reportedly broken a 21-year-old international ban on commercial whaling by killing a fin whale - an endangered species. | |
| "One fin whale was caught today and will be landed tomorrow," a whalers' spokesman told Reuters news agency. | "One fin whale was caught today and will be landed tomorrow," a whalers' spokesman told Reuters news agency. |
| The move follows the country's announcement that it planned to resume commercial hunting of whales. | The move follows the country's announcement that it planned to resume commercial hunting of whales. |
| Norway is the only other nation that allows commercial whaling. Japan says it hunts for scientific research. | Norway is the only other nation that allows commercial whaling. Japan says it hunts for scientific research. |
| The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling under a moratorium imposed in 1985. | The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling under a moratorium imposed in 1985. |
| Iceland is a member of the IWC, having rejoined in 2002 after a 10-year absence. | Iceland is a member of the IWC, having rejoined in 2002 after a 10-year absence. |
| Tourism blow | Tourism blow |
| But in a statement on Tuesday, Iceland's fisheries ministry announced its new plans. | But in a statement on Tuesday, Iceland's fisheries ministry announced its new plans. |
| Whaling vessels would take nine fin whales and 30 minke whales each year, the ministry said, adding that catches would remain within sustainable limits. | Whaling vessels would take nine fin whales and 30 minke whales each year, the ministry said, adding that catches would remain within sustainable limits. |
| Guide to whale species | Guide to whale species |
| Fin whales are listed as an endangered species by the World Conservation Union, but Iceland maintains numbers are high enough to permit hunting. | Fin whales are listed as an endangered species by the World Conservation Union, but Iceland maintains numbers are high enough to permit hunting. |
| Rune Froevik, spokesman from a Norway-based group representing the interests of Arctic fishing communities, said the whale that had been caught by an Icelandic vessel was about 65-70 ft (20m) long. | Rune Froevik, spokesman from a Norway-based group representing the interests of Arctic fishing communities, said the whale that had been caught by an Icelandic vessel was about 65-70 ft (20m) long. |
| The announcement has angered conservation groups and anti-whaling nations, with some talking of a legal challenge. | The announcement has angered conservation groups and anti-whaling nations, with some talking of a legal challenge. |
| It has also had an effect on the country's tourism industry, with cancellations reported by whale-watching companies. | It has also had an effect on the country's tourism industry, with cancellations reported by whale-watching companies. |
| "We have received several e-mails from people saying they have decided not to visit Iceland as long as Iceland is conducting whaling," Thorunn Harvardottir, who runs a whale-watching company, told French news agency AFP. | "We have received several e-mails from people saying they have decided not to visit Iceland as long as Iceland is conducting whaling," Thorunn Harvardottir, who runs a whale-watching company, told French news agency AFP. |
| The European Commission has urged Iceland to reconsider its decision. | The European Commission has urged Iceland to reconsider its decision. |