Not talking about the artificially created species, that's a separate issue. More things like overfishing. And hunting of other species that are endangered but not as cute and lovable.
Overfishing is horrific, but people get up-in-arms about whales because cetaceans are basically people. Think of the dumbest human you know: they’re about as smart as a typical whale.
Pretty interesting stuff. About 100 whales per year are hunted, but 2023 had over double the average since whale hunting resumed in 2006.
There was a 4 year hiatus until COVID hit, then tourism slumped and the hunters resumed. Now that tourism is up, hunters are being shunned again. Its roughly 150 people that would need new work, and could easily transition to whale tourism (lawl).
The Icelandic whalers say its only a small percentage of the estimated 30,000 whales that pass through, so its nbd.
These hunters account for roughly 3% of all whales hunted worldwide, raking in about $15m a year.
I wonder if we could get a license to hunt whale hunters and how much that could bring a year? I’d jump at the opportunity to hunt a toxic invasive species like that.
Animal rights groups say that while the number is significantly lower than in previous years, the decision to allow the practice to continue is inhumane and disappointing.
was given a license to hunt 128 fin whales in Icelandic waters and parts of Greenland and the Faroe Islands during the 2024 season, which typically runs from June to August.
The quota was half that of 2023, when the Icelandic government allowed for the hunting of 264 fin whales, according to the nonprofit organization International Fund for Animal Welfare.
“Today’s announcement represents a significant reduction in the quota and the duration of the hunt,” said Patrick Ramage, the group’s director.
Iceland’s government temporarily suspended the commercial hunting of fin whales last year on animal welfare grounds.
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority estimated in a May 2023 report that 67% of the 58 whales caught by boats it monitored died or lost consciousness quickly or immediately.
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