Animal Advocates Rally in Portland, ME to Protest Whaling to Iceland’s President | WPN World People News

Members of the public and representatives of animal protection and conservation organizations are rallying in Harbor View Memorial Park in Portland, Maine, to protest Iceland’s expanding commercial whaling program, and its links to fish and other Icelandic products imported into the United States through Portland, Maine.

Their message, “don’t buy from whalers,” coincides with Maine International Trade Day 2013 and a visit by Icelandic President Grímsson, who will deliver a keynote address at a downtown trade conference and tour Portland’s newly renovated International Marine Terminal port facilities across from Harbor View Memorial Park.

The rally from 3–6 p.m. is intended to remind President Grímsson and conference attendees that Iceland kills whales—including endangered fin whales, exports whale products in defiance of international treaties and that products from Iceland that are “tainted with the blood of whales” are not welcome in the United States.

Says Susan Millward, executive director of the Animal Welfare Institute, “President Grímsson wants to talk about trade, and so do we. We want to talk about the almost 3,000 tonnes of whale meat that Iceland has exported to Japan in recent years in defiance of international law. We want to talk about how magnificent, endangered fin whales killed in Iceland end up being sold as dog treats in Japan.”

Bill Rossiter, president of Cetacean Society International, adds “American whale watchers need to know that Icelandic whalers have killed whales as they were viewed by whale watchers. Despite whale watching being a major source of tourism income for Iceland, the whalers even fought recent efforts to keep them away from whale watches! American consumers want to know where their fish is coming from. They need to know that much of the fish imported from Iceland through Portland is tainted with the blood of whales—caught by fishing companies controlled by Iceland’s whaling industry.”

Allan Thornton, President of the Environmental Investigation Agency, says “In 1983 Iceland agreed to abide by the IWC's ban on commercial whaling. In exchange, Iceland was allowed to kill fin whales (and other species) during a three year phase-out of whaling. Iceland reneged on its commitment and killed fin whales after the deal had closed. Then and now, Iceland has shown bad faith, and failed to live up to its environmental commitments. Iceland can use whales to create jobs and revenue through whale watching, which generates good will for more tourism. Kristjan Loftsson's plans for the illegal killing of giant fin whales to sell for use as pet food in Japan is a shocking and ruthless waste, which must not be allowed.”

Source: Animal Welfare Institute