Later this month the Norwegian Government will consider whether to grant export licenses to a number of Norwegian companies which are pressing to be allowed to sell whale meat and blubber to Japan. According to Norwegian press reports, four Nowegian companies have already negotiated an export deal worth over half a million pounds which can only go ahead if they are issued the necessary licenses. The whalers are extremely keen to resume international trade as on average a kilo of whale meat sells for $12 in Japan, three times the Norwegian price and there is no market in Norway for whale blubber.
So far, the Norwegian Government has resisted giving the whalers permission to export as it fears the international reaction to such a move.
