Norwegian whalers have killed almost 500 minke whales in 2020, marking the industry’s deadliest whaling season in three years, according to recently-released statistics from the Fishermen’s Sales Organization (Råfisklaget). This year’s grim tally exceeds last year’s numbers by 52, and with the whaling season still underway, the death toll will rise.
This disappointing news comes amid the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate decision to relax numerous whaling regulations, encouraging more sea vessels to participate in the industry.
Norway formally objected to a 1982 global moratorium on whaling imposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and resumed commercial whaling 11 years later.
Since then, Norway has fought adamantly to keep its whaling industry alive, despite a diminishing domestic demand for whale meat. To compensate, the country is increasingly exporting whale meat and blubber, as well as supporting the cruel fur industry by selling whale meat to fur farms as an animal feed ingredient.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian government is actively promoting the consumption of whale meat, with some schools even reportedly offering whale burgers on their cafeteria menus, according to the Daily Mail.
While North Atlantic minke whales are not considered endangered, commercial whaling could potentially spell disaster down the road.
“Nearly 70 percent of the whales being targeted by Norwegian whalers are females, many of whom are pregnant,” Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) marine animal consultant Kate O’Connell said in a press release obtained by Lady Freethinker. “This is irresponsible from a conservation perspective, as such a preponderance of females can impact genetic diversity and slow population growth. Worse still, the hunt has serious repercussions for animal welfare, as each year dozens of whales shot by grenade-tipped harpoons do not die instantly.”
The damage caused by overhunting has been shown throughout history. For example, Humpback whales were decimated during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and they’re still recovering decades after gaining protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1970.
As the remaining handful of countries that participate in commercial whaling seek to expand the industry and ease back on regulations meant to protect these vulnerable creatures, history threatens to repeat itself.
Is this brutal sociopathy what they call HYGGE?
What a stain on their country and their people. Apparently whales are NOT entitled to a COZY life!
BARBARIC DISGUSTING MASS MURDER OF MAGNIFICENT BEAUTIFUL CREATURES…SHAME!
Sick People need to be euthanized.
There are plenty of other things to eat rather than waste lives of innocent mammals. They never did us any harm.
The Norwegian Fisheries Directorate is ILLEGALLY directing the hunting of WHALES, which are MAMMALS, NOT FISH, and is also ignoring the 1982 global moratorium on whale murder, aka, “whaling” by the International Whaling Commission. The tiny amount of meat on a whale’s body as compared to the fat it needs to survive in the ice cold ocean waters is NEVER an excuse to murder these most magnificent and benign creatures for human consumption!
Perhaps the ‘whale meat eaters’ will all suffer from mercury poisoning as Karma payback for their continued ruthless, barbaric, sadistic, brutal slaughter of the innocent whales. SHAME on the country itself for supplying whale meat to that other horrific, disgusting ‘trade’ the fur farms……
SAD SAD SAD!!! WHEN WILL WORLD GOVERNMENTS WAKE UP & DEMAND NO MORE WHALE KILLING????????
GOD HELP US! With prayers and praise, the all mighty creator Lord God please end all suffering and grace save us in Jesus name. AMEN
GOD HELP US!
God help us!
Don’t include me when you say “we.” Speak for yourself. You must be one of those “woke” weirdos.
We should nuke Norway one city at a time until they stop this barbaric practice.
Of what use is the International Whaling Commission if they cannot enforce the moratorium, or, apparently, penalize those who break the agreement???
Vile Norway.
Disgusting Norway!! Please stop!
Shame on you Norway!
SO EVIL NORWAY!!!!! PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING! NO MORE KILLING!!~!
Will we ever learn?
DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.
Animal feed for a cruel industry? What is wrong with them? Norway sucks.
WOW!!! We really are the cruelest, dumbest, most reckless serial killers aren’t we!!?? Well done humans, once again proving how big and bad you are so you can fill your filthy wallets with more money at the expense of our planets most innocent, our animals!! How about we fill all the water lines in the world with strong birth control, and start weeding out the human race!! I dont have kids, never saw the need to have a carbon sucking brat!! I’m sorry fellow humans, but we gotta go!! We are the fowlest beings on mother Earth!! More animals, less people = better environment, no more pollution, and clear blue skies!! Sounds like a win!!
The seal industry is all but dead in Newfoundland and Labrador because the demand is all but near gone. So, who purchased whale meat and why they are the true culprits?
Why, oh why can’t we accept that other animals have the right to live, just as we do… Even, animals are far less dangerous than “humans”. We are the worst species on this planet. We kill for pleasure and like to ruin our own environment and that of others.
Is there somewhere a petition I can sign to ‘protest’ against this whaling. We urgently need to understand that this planet Earth is for ALL OF US…
I’m addicted to documentaries about wildlife, and recently watched one about whales… GREAT, MAJESTIC!! SUPERB… and a lot
Here I thought Norwegian people were kind and sympathetic folk. Yet as it turns out, with their govt’s help, they are unkind and unscrupulous. No morals just kill that which they desire.
The year is 2020, Norway. Grow up and wake up. Having to “force” something on people means that you really do not need to be doing it!
I hope all the Norwegians get cancer and die like the wales they have slaughter
That is horruble! Can’t they be stopped?
Mankind does nothing but kill. People should consider if we were not the superior race, would it be acceptable to kill humans?
If not acceptable, why is it acceptable to kill these creatures.
Such a shame that a civilised country like Norway cannot forget its past and continues to promote whaling as a legitimate activity.