The Details
Discover our latest podcast
The Norwegian government declared that 1,278 whales are likely to be harpooned in 2018. This increase, which represents around 28%, is aimed at boosting economic activity in the fishing sector so that the governments quotas are met.
1. Industry in decline: For years now, the number of whaling boats in the water has declined. In 1950, there were 350 boats in the water. Today in the declining industry, there are only 11. Fisheries minister Per Sandberg said in a statement ‘I hope the quota and the merging of fishing zones will be a good starting point for a good season for the whaling industry’.
According to animal activists are saying that the decline in the industry is due to the fall in demand for whale meat. That is, Norwegian people no longer like eating the meal that was once considered, the poor man’s dish.
According to figures from the Norwegian government the number of whales caught has decreased significantly from 660 harpooned in 2015 to 432 last year (out of a quota of 999). According tot the government this figure is the lowest in years. The fall in numbers has forced Norway to export some of the produce to Japan.
2. A worldwide whaling crisis: Norway, along with Iceland, is the only country to still hunt whales for commercial purposes. Why? They believe the whale population to be sufficiently abundant. According to Oslo, Norwegian waters contain more than 100,000 whales. Meanwhile, Japan claims they only hunt whales for scientific purposes.
