whaling

To whale or watch a whale?

Last edited 25 September 2003 at 8:00am

To whale, or watch a whale? That was the question Greenpeace posed to guests at an Icelandic tourism event at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on September 24.

The Mayor of Reykjavik, Thorolfur Arnason hosted the London event to promote tourism in Iceland. We were there to make sure the host and attendees realised that Icelandic tourism faces a crisis of confidence. Reykjavik, Husavik, is the centre of the island's whale watching industry - which is already noticing the repercussions of the Government's return to whaling.

Article tagged as: iceland, press releases, whale watching, whaling

To whale or watch a whale that is the question ...

Last edited 24 September 2003 at 8:00am
24 September, 2003

As Icelandic whalers continue their hunt in the North Atlantic, the Major of Reykjavik will visit London's Globe Theatre tonight (24th September) to promote Reykjavik as a tourist destination (1). Greenpeace and IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) will be outside the Globe distributing leaflets and urging the Mayor to add his voice to those calling on the Icelandic government to end whaling in favour of promoting Iceland as a whale watching and nature tourism destination.

Article tagged as: iceland, press releases, whaling

On tour in Iceland ...

Last edited 23 September 2003 at 8:00am
Oceans campaigner Willie Mackenzie on board the Warrior in Iceland

Greenpeace UK oceans campaigner, Willie Mackenzie, joined our flagship, the Rainbow Warrior on its Icelandic tour. The Warrior circumnavigated the nation, stopping in various cities and ports where the crew invited locals on board and opened up a dialogue about our opposition to whaling.

Below, Willie shares some of the highlights and low points of his trip.

Hvalfjordur: A visit to a whaling station

Article tagged as: iceland, press releases, whaling

Crew update:Willie Mackenzie, on board the Rainbow Warrior

Last edited 18 September 2003 at 8:00am
An anti-whaling stencil on a wall in the North Icelandic port town of Akureyri

An anti-whaling stencil on a wall in the North Icelandic port town of Akureyri

The small town of Husavik in north Iceland is more picturesque than any postcard could depict. Clean, brightly coloured houses greet you cheerfully, whatever way you aproach the town. The most noticeable thing about Husavik though is the whales. Whales are everywhere. On signposts, buildings, boats, shops - the town has reinvented itself as 'the whale-watching capital of Europe'.

Article tagged as: hachette, iceland, whaling

Whaling continues, but the tide is turning

Last edited 18 September 2003 at 8:00am
Minke whale caught by the whaling ship working out of Isafjordur, North West Iceland. Whalers cut the whale on board and place it in containers.

Minke whale caught by the whaling ship working out of Isafjordur, North West Iceland. Whalers cut the whale on board and place it in containers.

Article tagged as: iceland, overfishing, whaling

Turning the tide in Iceland

Last edited 9 September 2003 at 8:00am
The SV Rainbow Warrior arrives in Iceland, September 2003

The SV Rainbow Warrior arrives in Iceland, September 2003

Article tagged as: iceland, rainbow warrior, whaling

Rainbow Warrior returns to Iceland

Last edited 5 September 2003 at 8:00am
In front of an Icelandic whaling ship, during our first expedition in 1978

In front of an Icelandic whaling ship, during our first expedition in 1978

Our flagship, the SV Rainbow Warrior, has arrived in Iceland - twenty five years after Greenpeace's first visit - to protest against whaling.

Iceland recently announced the resumption of a 'scientific whaling' programme. We believe there is absolutely no reason to go whaling. We also refute the Icelandic government's claim that it is whaling in the name of 'science' - considering the whale meat is likely to be sold on the commercial market.

The Rainbow Warrior will be touring around different Icelandic ports, and its crew will be welcoming local people on board, and hosting public meetings to present the case against whaling.

When we launched our whales campaign, commercial hunting was the single biggest threat to cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises). Since then, many other threats have emerged. Now, the planet's oceans and the life they contain are facing a crisis. A return to commercial whaling would be devastating.

Article tagged as: hachette, iceland, oceans, rainbow warrior, ships, whaling

Efforts to combat pirate fishing hampered by UK Government

Last edited 28 August 2003 at 8:00am
28 August, 2003

Greenpeace today urged the UK Government to do more to enforce international fishing regulations that aim to protect endangered species.

The call comes following a high-seas chase that culminated in the capture of a suspected pirate vessel loaded with millions of pounds worth of the endangered Patagonian toothfish.

Article tagged as: government, overfishing, pirate fishing, press releases, whaling

Oceans in crisis

Last edited 27 August 2003 at 8:00am
A Greenpeace diver frees a sunfish from a fishing net

A Greenpeace diver frees a sunfish from a fishing net

Although oceans cover more than two-thirds of the planet's surface, it is clear that our oceans are limitless no more. For too long access to marine life has been largely open for use by anyone possessing the means to exploit it.

Rapid advances in technology have meant that the ability, reach and power of vessels and equipment used to exploit marine life now far outweigh nature's ability to maintain it. If left unchecked, this will have tragic consequences.

Article tagged as: hachette, oceans, overfishing, whaling

Coalition calls for Iceland to stop whaling

Last edited 15 August 2003 at 8:00am
A dead whale at an Icelandic whaling station, from our first expedition in 1978

A dead whale at an Icelandic whaling station, from our first expedition in 1978

Greenpeace has joined forces with a range of animal welfare and conservation groups to express outrage at Iceland's decision to resume whaling.

The groups below issued a statement calling on Iceland to abandon its whaling programme immediately.

Article tagged as: hachette, iceland, IWC, whaling