Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

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Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

A new document shows meat from whale hunts going to a company that makes feed for animals on fur farms.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

Workers cut up fin whale meat in Iceland in 2015. Iceland and Norway are the only two countries that have commercial whaling programs.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ARNALDUR HALIDORSSON, BLOOMBERG, GETTY IMAGES

By Rachael Bale Tim Laman

PUBLISHED MARCH 31, 2016

So few people in Norway want to eat whale meat that it’s ending up in the feed manufactured for animals on fur farms, according to a new document released by the Environmental Investigation Agency, a London-based nonprofit, and the U.S.-based Animal Welfare Institute. The document shows that more than 113 metric tons of minke whale products—equivalent to about 75 whales— was bought or used by Rogaland Pelsdyrfôrlaget, the largest manufacturer of animal feed for Norway’s fur industry.

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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

In addition to being one of three countries that continues to whale, Norway has a thriving fur industry. Last year, it exported between 258 tons of fox skins and 1,000 tons of mink skins to the European Union, according to the press release.

When the International Whaling Commission put a moratorium on whaling in 1986, Norway and Iceland registered objections. The two countries are alone in continuing to hunt whales commercially. Japan, which just returned from the Antarctic with 333 minke whales, hunts under a (controversial) scientific permit.

Norway’s government props up the industry heavily, supporting it with fuel tax exemptions and free storage for whale meat, according to a 2009 report from World Wildlife Fund and the Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

There is little demand for whale meat in Norway, and consumption fell in 2000 to about half a pound of meat per person per year, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Norway has increased its exports of whale meat to Japan in recent years in defiance of the international ban. However, the EIA and AWI revealed last year that Japan rejected imports of Norwegian whale meat when tests showed they contained high levels of toxic pesticides.

“The Norwegian government claims it’s important to have whale meat as a source of food for people, but because of falling demand, the product is now being exported,” said Jennifer Lonsdale, co-founder and director of the EIA. “Now we discover it’s going to feed animals in the fur industry, which we find completely unacceptable.”

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

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Explore More at National Geographic's Wildlife Watch Blog

The document, published online Thursday, appears to show how many kilograms of feed ingredients the company bought or used in 2014. It lists 113,700 kilograms, or 125 U.S. tons, of whale product, which could include meat and blubber.

Norway issued itself a quota for the hunting of about 880 whales for 2016, down from 1,286 the previous year. But scientists at the whaling commission have criticized Norway’s quota for not being conservation-minded enough. In 2001, the International Whaling Commission passed a resolution calling on Norway to stop hunting and trading whales, but Norway insists it’s a tradition that needs to be protected.

Minke whales in the North Atlantic, where Norway hunts, are not considered to be at-risk, but conservationists and animal welfare activists say the hunts are cruel and unnecessary, given the low demand for whale meat.

This story was produced by National Geographic’s Special Investigations Unit, which focuses on wildlife crime and is made possible by grants from the BAND Foundation and the Woodtiger Fund. Read more stories from the SIU on Wildlife Watch. Send tips, feedback, and story ideas to [email protected].

Follow Rachael Bale on Twitter.

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Evans Gleaton Apr 11, 2016

Damned Norwegians - as cruel and capitalistic as the Japanese

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Malcolm Booth Apr 9, 2016

I've never been to Norway and maybe I will one day. However it has to stop this disgusting industry first.

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John Arnold Apr 8, 2016

The holder-than-thou Norwegians certainly raise the bar for hypocrisy. They claim to be environmental stewards but certainly don't appear to practice it when it's not convenient for them.

2 Like Reply

Ty Savoy Apr 1, 2016

A double whammy of depravity happening in Norway, the whale 'hunt', and the incredibly sick and twisted fox and mink farm business.

New video shows horrific conditions inside norwegian fur farms http://bit.ly/1VW3r8B

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

2 Like Reply

James Apple Apr 1, 2016

Another reason why I will not be going to Iceland this year or ever on a summer vacation until they stop killing whales. Use to go into Norway on business and love the country and its people but they are dead wrong on this subject. As far as Japan is concerned I have stopped buying Japanese made products and have called the Japanese embassy in Washing DC to voice my objection on their continuation of hunting whales after a 2 year hiatus! Hunting for species such as tigers elephants and whales have to stop. Please let the countries know how you fell by calling their consulates or embassies or companies such as Honda, Toyota, and Sony. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

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Newt Connor Apr 9, 2016

@James Apple Guys, please enlighten yourself on our own meat industry before attacking others for theirs. Minke whales are by no means an endangered species, and I se no reason why this is worse than what we have in the US. I encourage people to look into how for instance chickens are treated in the slaughtering process. If animal lives matter, taking one whale life probably provides more meat than a thousand chickens. Also, if Norwegians export to Japan (who are really the ones treating the whales badly) then they will need to "research" less whales.... The fur industry is a horrid, but a whole other thing, and that is nothing special for Norway. However, I don't know what is the usual food for the fur industry, maybe the article should have looked a bit more into what's the alternative? Is using other animals any better?

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Evans Gleaton Apr 11, 2016

Shut up

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terry pratt Mar 31, 2016

Human beings are over rated.

8 Like Reply

Melanie Craig Mar 31, 2016

Couldnt have said it better myself.

3 Like Reply http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160331-norway-minke-whaling-fur-farms/[10.05.2016 12:22:27] Norway’s Whaling Program Just Got Even More Controversial

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