whale-for-sale

WHALE FOR SALE THE GLOBAL TRADE IN DEAD WHALESFishermen’s Sales Organisation 3 . In April 2010, representatives of the Norwegian fishing industrycalled on the Fisheries Minister to raise subsidies to the whaling industry, as they had difficultyselling whale meat. Since then, the industry has desperately tried to create a new interest for whalemeat within the Norwegian population and tourism sector. One angle is to target young, ‘hip’ nationaland international customers who attend popular Norwegian music festivals such as Bukta, Træna orInferno Festival, with products like whale burgers or whale sushi.Bukta Festival promoter, Robert Dyrnes, commented: ‘When Iggy Pop was here in 2007, oneof his wishes was to see a live whale. But when we explained that this was a little difficult,he was very satisfied that he could eat as many whale burgers he wanted. A dead whaleis as good as a live one, Iggy said. The foreign artists realize that this is probably theironly chance in life to eat whale, which makes the whale burger very popular. We even getvegetarians trying the whale meat.’ 4However, attempts in recent years to popularize the sale of whale burgers have largely flopped. For example,in 2005, the Karsten Ellingsen Company launched the ‘Lofotburger’ (50% minke whale meat, 50% pork)which was sold in dozens of supermarkets throughout Norway. They commented at the time: ‘We hope thatthis product hits the nail on the head and that a new generation gets their eyes opened up to whale meat.’However, by 2008, the company declared that it made better profits from salmon. 5Since 1992, the Norwegian government has spent around US$ 5 million on PR and lobbyingcampaigns to promote its whaling and seal hunting industries. 3 In April 2013, Innovation Norway, astate-owned company, offered a three-year grant to Fisheries Park AS to develop a marketing strategy,‘brand association’ and quality standard for Norwegian whale meat and products on behalf of thewhaling industry. 6In March 2001, the Norwegian Food Safety Organization advised limited consumption of whaleblubber and by 2003, the group recommended that pregnant and nursing women avoid whalemeat and blubber altogether. These health warnings were re-issued in May 2009 and were also thereason for the cessation of exports to Iceland. However, the warnings were cancelled in 2012 when astatement was issued claiming that recent studies had shown that contaminants and mercury levels inminke whale meat were significantly lower than previous studies had shown. 7Whale meat – export market: Prior to the ban on commercial whaling, Norway exported more than51% its whale products to Japan. After the moratorium, Norway originally agreed to halt trade inwhale products, despite the fact that it maintains a reservation to the Appendix 1 listing of whales atCITES. In 2001, the Norwegian government decided to resume exports of meat and blubber to Japan,despite the IWC and CITES bans.A shipment of 5 tons of whale meat was exported to Japan in 2008 and cleared for sale in Februaryof 2009, however in the end, the meat was not sold due to bacterial contamination and high lacticacid levels. 8 In December 2012, 30kg of Norwegian minke whale meat was shipped to Japan under anexport permit granted to Myklebust Trading AS by the Norwegian Directorate of Nature Management(DIRNAT). 9A further export, this time in February 2013, again on behalf of Myklebust Trading, saw 4,250 kg offrozen whale belly meat, blubber, tails and fins leave Ålesund, Norway, bound for Japan. The shipment{ 29 }