IFAW: Iceland is defying international regulations to illegally export whale meat to the EU.

Thursday, 18 March 2010 12:00 AM

Icelandic government records state that the country is exporting meat from slaughtered whales to Latvia and Denmark, as well as Japan - in defiance of international law and a global whaling ban.

Data from Statistics Iceland, the source for official Icelandic government statistics, show a number of recent exports of whale products from Iceland to the three countries. Exports to Denmark and Latvia are contrary to EU law, even if the products are re-exported. International trade in whale products is banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Exports to Latvia have been confirmed by the Latvian authorities, which have promised a full investigation, which is welcomed by IFAW.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is deeply concerned about illegal international trade in whale products, particularly in the context of current negotiations over a relaxation of the worldwide ban on commercial whaling.

Although both minke and fin whales have been hunted by Iceland in recent years, the products concerned are likely to be from fin whales, an endangered species.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: "Iceland appears to be riding roughshod over international law. This information comes at a time when the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is considering a compromise deal that could allow commercial whaling despite the moratorium.

"These exports provide further proof that this is exactly the wrong time for the IWC to consider any moves to 'legitimise' whaling. Whales need protection and the worldwide ban on whaling needs to be strengthened, not weakened.

Both Latvia and Denmark are members of the European Union. The importation of whale products into the EU would be a violation of both the EU Habitats Directive and the EU CITES Regulation. In addition, this trade would be illegal under CITES, of which Iceland, Latvia and Denmark are members.

Patrick Ramage, IFAW's Global Whale Programme Director, said: "Apparently Iceland wants to do for saving whales what it's already done for saving money and to the future of the IWC what it's already done to its own economy.

"EU governments and others at the IWC are being pushed to accept a 'compromise' proposal aggressively promoted by Iceland, Japan and Norway. Countries serious about whale conservation need to take action immediately to stop this sell-out and save the whales."

IFAW is lodging a formal complaint with the European Commission, the CITES Secretariat, CITES representatives for Latvia, Denmark and Iceland, Interpol and the World Customs Organisation.

Ends

For more information or to arrange interviews contact Josey Sharrad at IFAW UK on tel 020 7587 6728, mob 07717 692099, email jsharrad@ifaw.org or Chris Cutter on tel 001 508 744 2066, mob 001 508 737 4623.

Link to IFAW briefing on international trade in whale meat - http://bit.ly/aHhYDU

Notes for Editors -

The International Whaling Commission adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling which came into effect in 1986 for the North Atlantic and 1985/1986 for the Southern Ocean. Iceland, which was a member of the IWC at the time did not file a formal objection to the moratorium and was therefore bound by it. Iceland then left the IWC in 1992 but rejoined in 2003, with a controversial post facto reservation to the moratorium, to which many countries filed formal diplomatic objections. Since 2003, Iceland has conducted a mixture of 'scientific whaling' and commercial whaling.

International commercial trade in whale products is currently banned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which lists all the great whales on Appendix 1 (no international commercial trade allowed). All the countries concerned (Iceland, Japan, Denmark and Latvia) are parties to CITES and are thus bound by the CITES convention. Parties to CITES can file reservations to the listing of particular species or populations of plants or animals. A reservation to a CITES Appendix I species means that it should be treated as if it were on CITES Appendix II (trade allowed provided that non-detriment findings and export permits are issued). Of the four countries listed above, only Japan and Iceland maintain reservations to the Appendix I listing of some of the great whale species.

Denmark. Statistics Iceland reports that in January 2009, 775 kg of whale 'meal', traditionally used as an agricultural fertiliser, was exported to Denmark. Then in March 2009 another 22,750 kg of whale meal was exported to Denmark. The first export is listed as worth 79,043 ISK (approx 410GBP/632 USD) and the latter is registered as being worth 1,802,658 ISK.(approx 9,396GBP/14,409USD)

Exports to Greenland and the Faroe islands, which are self-governing regions of the Kingdom of Denmark that are outside the EU, would be listed as such in Statistics Iceland.

Although Iceland maintains a reservation to the CITES Appendix 1 listing of most species of whales, Denmark does not. In addition, Denmark is a member of the EU. Thus such trade would be illegal under CITES and EU Law.

Japan. Statistics Iceland indicates that in January 2010 the following was exported, probably by sea: Frozen whale meat: 0. Other frozen whale products: 134,026,000 kg with a price of 308,215,584 ISK (2463 USD/1604GBP) free on board (fob). Fresh whale meat and other whale products 0.

International trade in CITES Appendix I species is contrary to the intent of the CITES convention, even if technically legal because the countries concerned have filed reservations. Both Japan and Iceland maintain reservations to the likely species of whales. Thus, providing that the appropriate documentation were completed, the trade would be legal providing that there was no importation into other countries en route.

Latvia. Statistics Iceland indicates that in January 2010 250Kg of frozen whale meat was exported to Latvia (Lettland) by sea with a price of 306,781 ISK (2452USD/1596GBP)

Although Iceland maintains a reservation to the CITES Appendix 1 listing of most species of whales, Latvia does not. Latvia is also a member of the EU. Thus such trade would be illegal under CITES and EU Law.

About the International Fund for Animal Welfare - As one of the world's leading animal welfare organisations, IFAW has representation in 16 countries and carries out its animal welfare work in more than 40. IFAW works from its global headquarters in the United States and focuses its campaigns on improving the welfare of wild and domestic animals by reducing the commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats and assisting animals in distress. IFAW works both on the ground and in the halls of government to safeguard wild and domestic animals and seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people. Visit www.ifaw.org

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