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| Iceland begins commercial whaling | Iceland begins commercial whaling |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Iceland is to resume commercial hunting of whales, the BBC has learned. | Iceland is to resume commercial hunting of whales, the BBC has learned. |
| Icelandic ships will take nine fin whales, an endangered species, and 30 minke whales each year. | Icelandic ships will take nine fin whales, an endangered species, and 30 minke whales each year. |
| In a statement, the fisheries ministry said Iceland was dependent on living marine resources, and would keep catches within sustainable limits. | In a statement, the fisheries ministry said Iceland was dependent on living marine resources, and would keep catches within sustainable limits. |
| Norway is the only other country to hunt commercially; most are bound by a 20-year moratorium. Currently Iceland hunts minkes for "scientific research". | Norway is the only other country to hunt commercially; most are bound by a 20-year moratorium. Currently Iceland hunts minkes for "scientific research". |
| The scientific plan will conclude at the end of the 2007 season, the government said. | The scientific plan will conclude at the end of the 2007 season, the government said. |
| Whales and fish | Whales and fish |
| Rumours of a resumption have been circulating for some weeks, and a local company Hvalur hf has, according to newspapers, been outfitting a processing plant and staffing a whaling ship. | Rumours of a resumption have been circulating for some weeks, and a local company Hvalur hf has, according to newspapers, been outfitting a processing plant and staffing a whaling ship. |
| This decision is giving the finger to the international community Arni Finnsson The resumption will be greeted with dismay by conservation groups, alarmed by the passing of the first pro-hunting resolution in 20 years at this year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting. | This decision is giving the finger to the international community Arni Finnsson The resumption will be greeted with dismay by conservation groups, alarmed by the passing of the first pro-hunting resolution in 20 years at this year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting. |
| "We are suprised and disappointed," said Arni Finnsson from the Iceland Nature Conservation Association (Inca). | "We are suprised and disappointed," said Arni Finnsson from the Iceland Nature Conservation Association (Inca). |
| "There is no market for this meat in Iceland, there is no possibility to export it to Japan; the government appears to have listened to fishermen who are blaming whales for eating all the fish. | "There is no market for this meat in Iceland, there is no possibility to export it to Japan; the government appears to have listened to fishermen who are blaming whales for eating all the fish. |
| "This decision is giving the finger to the international community." | "This decision is giving the finger to the international community." |
| Guide to whale species The Icelandic government has become frustrated with IWC negotiations on the Revised Management Scheme (RMS), a protocol designed to re-introduce commercial hunting under strict international catch limits, said Rune Frovik from the High North Alliance, a group representing whalers, sealers and fishermen in high latitude countries. | |
| "When Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002, they said they would not resume commercial whaling before 2006; they also said they would not resume as long as there was progress on the RMS. | |
| "But at this year's IWC meeting, the process stopped - there was no progress." | |
| 'Sustainable' catch | 'Sustainable' catch |
| Iceland maintains local stocks are high enough to permit some hunting, despite the endangered status of the fin. | Iceland maintains local stocks are high enough to permit some hunting, despite the endangered status of the fin. |
| "The total stock size of central and north Atlantic minke whales is close to 70,000 animals, of which around 43,600 are in Icelandic costal waters," said the government's statement. | "The total stock size of central and north Atlantic minke whales is close to 70,000 animals, of which around 43,600 are in Icelandic costal waters," said the government's statement. |
| "The number of fin whales in the [area] is estimated at around 25,800 animals. | "The number of fin whales in the [area] is estimated at around 25,800 animals. |
| "The catches are clearly sustainable and therefore consistent with the principle of sustainable development." | "The catches are clearly sustainable and therefore consistent with the principle of sustainable development." |
| The country gave up commercial hunts when the moratorium was introduced in 1986, and stopped all whaling in 1989. Its current scientific programme began in 2003. | |
| Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |