Iceland's fisheries minister dismissed suggestions that the Whalle killing will hurt tourism. - Here Loftsson is taking a photo of his HARPOON, I wonder why? Didn´t it explode Mr. Loftsson

ALONG with pandas and tigers, whales are among the most charismatic of megafauna. They sing, they socialise and they look after one another. They are impressively big and surprisingly graceful. They seem somehow wise and sad.

So when Iceland renounced a 20-year-old worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling, a predictable hullaballoo broke out.

Iceland's fisheries minister said on Wednesday the government had expected criticism for its decision to resume commercial whaling after a 21-year ban but he dismissed suggestions the hunt would hurt tourism.

Sweden, Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the European Union have condemned the step.

Gudfinnsson said he was not surprised that countries widely known to be against whaling would take issue with Iceland's decision, but was dismissive of the threat to tourism.

Many Tour operators worry about a repeat of a recent incident in Norway, in which a whale was harpooned in front of horrified eco-tourists. Polls also reveal that few Icelanders enjoy eating whale, which tastes like stewing steak infused with tuna oil.

Whaling nations have amassed a blubber mountain, despite desperate
measures, such as mixing the stuff into dog food. It is the principle, apparently, that counts.

Please help us correcting the minister in Iceland. You can write to hima at.
..........................................
Iceland's fisheries minister
Einar K. Guðfinnsson
einarg@althingi.is
www.ekg.is
.........................................

Fact of the matter is that Iceland tourism is being harpooned.

Iceland’s resumption of commercial whaling, in defiance of a 21-year international moratorium on the practice, has had a sudden and dramatic effect on its nature tourism.

A 65ft fin whale became the first victim of the policy, after fisheries minister Einar Kristinn Gudfinsson issued licences for the slaughter of 39 whales.

Asbjorn Bjorgvinsson, the chairman of the Icelandic Whale Watching Association, says the effect on tourism was immediate. “Hotels and boat operators have reported nothing but cancellations since that first whale was killed,” he said.

But conservationist Mark Cawardine says a boycott of Iceland could do more harm than good: “There are only two ways to make money from whales and one of them is through nature tourism. If the whale-watchers stop coming, the slaughter will only increase.”

Arsaell Hardarson, of the Iceland Tourist Board, confirmed a deluge of e-mails from tourists saying they were no longer coming to Iceland.

Taken on: October 30, 2006

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Sets appears in: • Whale Killing in Iceland

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