Commercial Whaling Ban Holds—For Now

[Orstio]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0624_050624_whalingban.html

Japan's efforts to relax whaling restrictions were voted down this week at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Yet the possible return of commercial whaling across the world's oceans still worries conservationists.

At the IWC gathering in Ulsan, Korea, which ended today, Japan failed in its bid to lift a ban on commercial whaling. But IWC members agreed to meet again to reconsider the issue with a view to ending the 19-year moratorium.

[Orstio]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6059564.stm

Icelandic ships will take nine fin whales, an endangered species, and 30 minke whales each year.

In a statement, the fisheries ministry said the nation 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".

[Charity]

I was just reading yesterday, that Iceland has lifted the ban all together, and will allow the hunting of whale, for any purpose