Icelandic Whaling Draws US Criticism

The U.S. Department of Commerce late last week publicly scolded Iceland for its recent resumption of commercial hunting for minke whales in defiance of a current global ban on commercial whaling.

According to Commerce Sec. Carlos M. Gutierrez, Iceland’s renewed whaling is taking place outside the review and control of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

"Iceland is pursuing a completely commercial enterprise driven by profit motive with no oversight by IWC members nor analysis by their scientific committee," said Gutierrez in a press release. "I urge Iceland to reconsider this decision and focus on the overarching principles of the Commission rather than the short-term interests of its whaling industry. At a time when we should be doing more to help protect whales, Iceland is going in the wrong direction."

In 2004, the United States certified Iceland as a country that is undermining the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission. That certification remains active today.

The U.S. Department of Commerce oversees U.S. ocean fishing and conservation of whales and other marine mammals through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Also See: US Protests Japan's Antarctic Whale Killing