U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke certified to President Obama that Iceland’s commercial whaling and international trade in fin whale products is diminishing the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), and urged the Government of Iceland to cease permitting commercial whaling. Iceland killed 273 endangered fin whales in 2009 and 2010. Iceland has not harvested any fin whales so far in 2011, but the government continues to permit whaling and has issued a whale quota for the 2011 season. Iceland has continued to harvest minke whales in 2011. The IWC has in place a global moratorium on commercial whaling.
In his lette today, Secretary Locke recommended that the president take a number of actions, including: In 2004, then-Commerce Secretary Donald Evans certified Iceland as a country that is undermining the effectiveness of the whaling convention and the IWC through its scientific whaling. In 2006, then-Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez kept Iceland certified for its commercial whaling. Secretary Locke recommended that the president direct U.S. officials and agencies to undertake a number of actions in response to Iceland’s commercial whaling activities, and evaluate further potential responses to Iceland’s harvest of whales outside of IWC control.
The Department of Commerce conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The United States supports conservation of the world’s whale populations through the International Whaling Commission.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
