Iceland whale hunting...yay or nay?

MarzMartini · 08-20-2003

Iceland Whale Hunt Goes on Despite Protests
Tue Aug 19, 8:52 AM ET Add Science - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Gleb Bryanski

OLAFSVIK, Iceland (Reuters) - Icelandic whalers were out hunting again on Tuesday, one day after their first catch in 14 years drew protests from environmentalist groups and prompted the United States to threaten sanctions.

Reuters Photo

Reuters
Slideshow: Whale Hunting

Icelandic Whalers Make First Kill
(AP Video)

Two vessels with whale hunting permits were still out at sea after a third, the Njordur, returned with the first minke whale caught in Icelandic waters since 1989, said Johan Sigurjonsson, a director at the Icelandic Marine Research Institute.

The 16-yard-long vessel, off-limits to journalists, was due to resume the hunt later on Tuesday after bringing its catch ashore at the west coast village of Olafsvik.

A Reuters witness said the deck looked empty apart from half a dozen big knives and machinery covered with bloodstains, used to cut up the whale.

The first catch was a 5.6-yard-long male, Sigurjonsson said, calling it "rather small." Adult minke whales grow to 10 yards.

Iceland plans initially to catch 38 minke whales as part of what it says is scientific research on the impact of a growing whale population on fish stocks vital for the livelihood of Icelandic fishermen.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States was "extremely disappointed" and could consider sanctions against imports from the north Atlantic island.

Jill Sanders of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, in Reykjavik to monitor the whale hunt, said the exercise was pointless from a scientific point of view.

"There's absolutely no need to go out and kill whales in the ocean," she told Reuters.

About 10 dead minke whales were washed ashore in Iceland every year, she said. "They (scientists) can cut their stomachs if they want to find out what they have been eating."

The British-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) said Iceland's "so-called scientific hunt" was the first step toward the culling of whales in the name of fisheries management and a front for resuming commercial activities.

Commercial whaling has been banned since 1986 because 13 of the world's great whale species are considered endangered.

A vast majority of Iceland's 290,000 people support whaling, opinion polls show, and Iceland's President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson called the hunt legitimate.

"The whale population...is a consumer of vast quantities of fish stocks. But we don't really know what is the extent of that because we have not been able to do the sufficient research," he told a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska.

Ibudin · 08-20-2003

Leave the big fish alone.

Ibudin

08-20-2003

I don't understand what a whale ever did for me, or ever will do for me, or any other living human being. It just drinks a shit load of water, and pollutes our oceans- FUCK THE WHALE

Willgatus Airslasher · 08-20-2003

OMG SAVEZ0R TEH WHALES!!!!!111!!!one!!!~

Seriously, it's localized and it's limited to a small number of a growing population of whales, and does not really threaten the species. What the heck is the problem?

The fact that the US might impose sanctions as a consequence of this event is laughable. The given situation is by no means problematic to the environment in the long run. Sure, it pisses the PETA folks off (and what doesn't?), but there is no real harm done. Isn't there more relevant stuff to worry about?

08-20-2003

I sure you wouldn't be shouting "save the whales!" if one sank your boat and ate your seamen :P

Osgiliath666 · 08-20-2003

Over all I wished they would leave em alone. But this seems to be a small hunt and and alot for research(govt's dont lie right?) It also does not effect me so fuck em.

Juleea · 08-20-2003

Save the whales..

/sigh Marz its always your threads I end up replying to.. I think you were just checking to see if I was still around hehe..

08-20-2003

"There's absolutely no need to go out and kill whales in the ocean," she told Reuters.

sorry but that quote cracked me the fuck up. i just got a mental image of a icelandic fisherman on the beach with a cod in his hand, goin "here whale whale. Heeere whale whale".

MarzMartini · 08-20-2003

I don't really understand the logic behind this.

How can 38 whales fuck up the fishing industry? Do they really consume that much fish?

I'm not really an animal rights wacko. I don't like PETA or morons running around yelling "save the fucking pigeons", but I'm not really into people killing animals that are seriously endangered without some type of valid reason.

trimlock · 08-20-2003

depends on the whale, some whales don't eat fish, ,some whales eat a huge amount of plankton, either way, they both need a larg amount of their food

08-20-2003	#1
MarzMartini New user Joined: Sep 2002 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,031 vCash: 1000	Iceland whale hunting...yay or nay? Iceland Whale Hunt Goes on Despite Protests Tue Aug 19, 8:52 AM ET Add Science - Reuters to My Yahoo! By Gleb Bryanski OLAFSVIK, Iceland (Reuters) - Icelandic whalers were out hunting again on Tuesday, one day after their first catch in 14 years drew protests from environmentalist groups and prompted the United States to threaten sanctions. Reuters Photo Reuters Slideshow: Whale Hunting Icelandic Whalers Make First Kill (AP Video) Two vessels with whale hunting permits were still out at sea after a third, the Njordur, returned with the first minke whale caught in Icelandic waters since 1989, said Johan Sigurjonsson, a director at the Icelandic Marine Research Institute. The 16-yard-long vessel, off-limits to journalists, was due to resume the hunt later on Tuesday after bringing its catch ashore at the west coast village of Olafsvik. A Reuters witness said the deck looked empty apart from half a dozen big knives and machinery covered with bloodstains, used to cut up the whale. The first catch was a 5.6-yard-long male, Sigurjonsson said, calling it "rather small." Adult minke whales grow to 10 yards. Iceland plans initially to catch 38 minke whales as part of what it says is scientific research on the impact of a growing whale population on fish stocks vital for the livelihood of Icelandic fishermen. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States was "extremely disappointed" and could consider sanctions against imports from the north Atlantic island. Jill Sanders of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, in Reykjavik to monitor the whale hunt, said the exercise was pointless from a scientific point of view. "There's absolutely no need to go out and kill whales in the ocean," she told Reuters. About 10 dead minke whales were washed ashore in Iceland every year, she said. "They (scientists) can cut their stomachs if they want to find out what they have been eating." The British-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) said Iceland's "so-called scientific hunt" was the first step toward the culling of whales in the name of fisheries management and a front for resuming commercial activities. Commercial whaling has been banned since 1986 because 13 of the world's great whale species are considered endangered. A vast majority of Iceland's 290,000 people support whaling, opinion polls show, and Iceland's President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson called the hunt legitimate. "The whale population...is a consumer of vast quantities of fish stocks. But we don't really know what is the extent of that because we have not been able to do the sufficient research," he told a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska.

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08-20-2003	#2
Ibudin Don't Piss off the BULL. Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,406 vCash: 1000	Leave the big fish alone. Ibudin

08-20-2003	#3
Lazzarik Guest Joined: Posts: n/a vCash:	I don't understand what a whale ever did for me, or ever will do for me, or any other living human being. It just drinks a shit load of water, and pollutes our oceans- FUCK THE WHALE

08-20-2003	#4
Willgatus Airslasher Propagandistic Anarchist Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 350 vCash: 1000	OMG SAVEZ0R TEH WHALES!!!!!111!!!one!!!~ Seriously, it's localized and it's limited to a small number of a growing population of whales, and does not really threaten the species. What the heck is the problem? The fact that the US might impose sanctions as a consequence of this event is laughable. The given situation is by no means problematic to the environment in the long run. Sure, it pisses the PETA folks off (and what doesn't?), but there is no real harm done. Isn't there more relevant stuff to worry about?

08-20-2003	#6
Osgiliath666 I hate Liberal SCUM! Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Colorado Party: Republican Posts: 2,464 vCash: 1000	Over all I wished they would leave em alone. But this seems to be a small hunt and and alot for research(govt's dont lie right?) It also does not effect me so fuck em.

08-20-2003	#7
Juleea Cacophonous Chimp Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 57 vCash: 1000	Save the whales.. /sigh Marz its always your threads I end up replying to.. I think you were just checking to see if I was still around hehe..

08-20-2003	#8
Ubfubar Guest Joined: Posts: n/a vCash:	"There's absolutely no need to go out and kill whales in the ocean," she told Reuters. sorry but that quote cracked me the fuck up. i just got a mental image of a icelandic fisherman on the beach with a cod in his hand, goin "here whale whale. Heeere whale whale".

08-20-2003	#10
trimlock New user Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,556 vCash: 1000	depends on the whale, some whales don't eat fish, ,some whales eat a huge amount of plankton, either way, they both need a larg amount of their food

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