Iceland announces a return to commercial whaling

The decision by Iceland to grant a commercial license to hunt whales makes no economic sense and should be retracted immediately said Greenpeace today. "Iceland has no market for whale meat, but they do have a huge and far more valuable market for whale watching," said Greenpeace campaigner Sarah Duthie.

She continued, "Instead of investing in a one-man campaign to rejuvenate an outdated, unnecessary industry, that can only damage the reputation of the country internationally, Iceland should be capitalising on the value of a growing industry of watching and studying whales."

Claims that the hunt is sustainable cannot not be credible, since nine of the 39 whales that are to be targeted are endangered Fin whales.

For more information contact:

The Greenpeace Press Office on 0207 865 8283.