Wildlife

Norway Kills More Whales This Season Than Since 1993

Favorable weather during spring and most of this summer has allowed Norway’s commercial whaling ships to slaughter more of the marine mammals than they have since the country resumed its whale hunt during 1993, in violation of a worldwide moratorium.

While Japan kills whales under the guise of research, Norway and Iceland are the only two nations that conduct commercial hunts.

At least 729 whales have been harpooned by Norwegian ships so far this summer, up from the 590 rorqual whales slaughtered last year.

Greenpeace says Norway’s hunt will eventually end as demand for whale meat continues to wane.

The delicacy has already become less popular in Norway as well as in Japan, where storehouses are flooded with surplus meat from the country’s “research” whaling.

“The weather this summer has been very good, which favored significant whale meat demand for grilling in northern Norway, but also made hunting easier thanks to clear skies and calm waters," said Truls Gulowsen, the head of Greenpeace in Norway.