Iceland's decision to resume whale hunting, at the risk of world opprobrium, does not make economic sense, argues Asbjörn Björgvinsson
Iceland's fisheries minister Einar Gudfinsson announced last week that he had decided to allow resumption of commercial whaling. This is a terrible decision, in my view. It will damage a much more acceptable, growing and profitable whaling economy - whale watching - and will do my country little good in the eyes of world opinion.
Commercial whaling came to an end in 1985 due to a moratorium by the International Whaling Commission. The Icelandic government, however, still permitted limited hunting of whales as a part of its so-called "scientific whaling" programme, in accordance with Article Eight of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW).
That type of whaling ceased in 1989, after years of struggle and an international boycott campaign against Iceland's fisheries products organised by Greenpeace.
Icelanders found a new, sustainable and more profitable way to exploit the whale stocks around their island. Whale watching has rapidly become one of the most popular aspects of tourism in Iceland and at present is conducted with little or no impact on whales.
Whale watching began in the early 1990s with only a few hundred customers; this year, more than 89,000 people have gone whale watching in Iceland. This rapid growth and additional revenue for small communities and the national economy have given tourism in Iceland a new dimension.
Even so, the Icelandic government decided to permit scientific whaling again in August 2003. Including this year's whaling season, a total of 160 minke whales have been killed, their stomach contents examined and some of the meat sold on the local market.
The Icelandic Whale Watching Association has condemned the hunt as unnecessary and damaging for the whale-watching business and Iceland's image.
The Icelandic government should take whale watching into consideration as an important economic factor when considering the whaling issue. Many politicians, however, have yet to rethink their position.
The economic importance of whale watching is already almost as high as the contribution of whaling during its peak years of 1950 to 1980. In the years of so-called scientific whaling, 1985 to 1989, however, its annual income was estimated to be between $3 million and $4 million. In a 2003 report, the value of the whale-watching business was estimated to be $24.2 million. (The report may be read at http://www.icewhale.is/default.asp?Id=571)
The common argument in Iceland - that there is an urgent need to use all natural resources, including whales - is neutralised by the fact that whales are already being used, but in an alternative way.
For many years in Icelandic waters, whales have not been harmed. As a result, they are not afraid of boats anymore and provide an unforgettable experience for tourists.
The recent claim by fisheries minister Gudfinsson, as represented by the headline in a statement by his department last week - "Iceland decides to resume sustainable whaling" - is false. Sustainability is defined by three key points: it must take into account the economic value, the social effects and the resource.
There is no way whale hunting can be defined as sustainable industry. There are no economic benefits from whaling as there are no markets for the products. And whaling is without a doubt damaging to Iceland's international image as a nature destination.
It is hard to find any positive social effects from whaling. Whale watching, on the other hand, has provided many new jobs and created new businesses throughout Iceland such as guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, museums and tourist handcraft centres.
Whale watching is conducted with little or no impact on whales. Whaling operates by killing whales.
At the present rate of growth, it is estimated that the number of whale-watching tourists could exceed 100,000 in 2008. It is crucial that whale watching is no longer jeopardised by senseless whale hunting.
My government justifies hunting minke whales for so-called scientific research on the basis that cod stocks are depleting, trying to prove that the abundance of minke whales is responsible for the situation.
The Icelandic Whale Watching Association will continue to counter this argument, which is being used to cover up the attempt to re-establish a whale meat market in Iceland.
Gisli Vikingsson, head of the research unit of the Marine Research Institute, admitted that whalers have sought out curious whales as their prime target in the past, since they are easy to approach. Naturally, these animals are at the same time the most important ones for the whale-watching companies.
The Marine Research Institute map, combined with our own information, shows how whale hunting and whale watching areas overlap. Gudfinnsson's decision to allow the commercial hunting of minke whales will have negative influences, with a great impact on the number of friendly minke whales.
Attempts in other countries have proven that whaling and whale watching cannot co-exist. Killing 200 minke whales yearly will neither save Icelandic fish stocks nor re-balance the marine ecosystems in Iceland.
Asbjörn Björgvinsson is chairman of the Icelandic Whale Watching Association.