Iceland Whaling in Spite of International Protests

U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, has urged Iceland to stop their international whale meat trade. He said that they need to join with nations and individuals in global efforts to save the whales. Secretary Locke said, "the United States strongly opposes Iceland's defiance of the commercial whaling ban ... it is troubling that Iceland continues to pursue commercial whaling outside the boundaries of the International Whaling Commission without member oversight or analysis by the Commission's oversight or analysis by the Commission's scientific committee." 

Iceland is blatantly violating international protections for whales and has increased their whale hunt. Endangered whales are being hunted and killed and their meat is being exported. Iceland is therefore violating two major international agreements: the ban on commercial whaling and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) ban on international trade in whale products.

Secretary Locke has indicated that the U.S. is "evaluating potential domestic responses" to Iceland's escalation of their whale hunt. Monica Medina, U.S. Commissioner to the IWC, said Iceland's continued hunt "sends a clear message that Iceland is not interested in cooperative international conservation of whales."