Icelandic Animal Welfare Groups Demand Immediate Halt to Whaling Operations

Animal welfare organizations in Iceland are demanding an immediate halt to the country's whaling activities. Hvalavinir (Friends of Whales), the Icelandic Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservationists of Iceland, and the Association for Animal Welfare have submitted a formal request to the Food Administration (MAST).

The demand is based on six inspection reports from MAST, dated between June 22 and 25. These reports, obtained by the organizations under the Freedom of Information Act, allegedly indicate repeated violations of animal welfare laws. The laws prohibit causing unnecessary suffering to animals and mandate swift, painless slaughter.

Specific concerns highlighted include a fin whale that reportedly took 31 minutes to die after being shot four times. The reports also mention repeated instances where more than one shot was needed to kill whales, inadequate registration of inspection data, and evidence of systemic problems in the whaling process. Furthermore, the organizations point to potential violations concerning the hunting of pregnant fin whales and the slaughter of their developed fetuses.

The groups are urging MAST to immediately stop further whaling under Hvalur hf.'s current license. Alternatively, they request the administration to recommend the ministry revoke the license pending an investigation. They reference a previous instance in September 2023 where MAST halted whaling operations following a deviation. The organizations also seek an independent investigation, expert opinions, and a review of oversight and data registration.

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Þar ber helst að nefna 31 mínútna dauðastríð langreyðar sem var skotin fjórum sinnum, endurtekin atvik þar sem þurfti fleiri en eitt skot til að aflífa dýr, ófullnægjandi skráningar eftirlitsskýrslna og vísbendingar um kerfisbundinn vanda við framkvæmd veiðanna. Jafnframt er bent á að veiðir á kelfdri langreyði og aflífun fullþroska hvalfósturs hennar kunni að brjóta gegn lögum um velferð dýra og banni við veiðum á hvalkálfum.