Can of Whale meat
In January this year, the Norwegian government decided to allow the export of whale products. This decision was made despite a recent announcement by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to keep an International ban on the trade in whale products.
Norway can legally choose to export whale products as they have a reservation as to the listing of the minke whale. The minke is currently on Appendix I of the convention, but Norway and other countries would like to 'downlist' the minke to Appendix II. This reservation has been rejected by CITES everytime, but places Norway in a position to legally export whale products, even though it sends a clear message of non-cooperation to the International body and undermines the effectiveness of International agreements.
Only countries holding a reservation to the CITES Appendix 1 listing of minke whales would be legally able to import Norwegian whale products. These countries are Japan, Iceland and Peru, but it is Japan who is the intended recipient for these Norwegian exports.
Norway's own market for whale meat is already saturated and there is no market at all for whale blubber. Japan however has a high demand for whale products to supply a luxury market. High quality raw whale meat may fetch up to
