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Since the days of Vikings Iceland have been hunting Whales. The process was banned in 1989 under an international moratorium. Whaling in Iceland was under practice in the name of scientific testing in 2003. However recently the country has announced to continue commercial whaling defying the worldwide protest. Japan and Norway have passed support to end the 20 year ban on whale fishing.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries of Iceland there are more than 43,000 minke whales and 25,000 fin whales in Icelandic coastal waters. The hunt quota of Iceland whaling this year is 30 minke whale and 9 fin whale.
Iceland Whaling has been criticized by various environmental groups and nations, which include United States and Britain. WSPA is seriously trying to stop this process. Over 19,000 people are supporting them by signing the petition to stop whaling. WSPA is seriously concerned about the target of whale killing by Iceland. WSPA has asked to stop this cruel process of killing these endangered species at once.
Whaling in Iceland is a traditional act. It has been in practice for many years. Whaling is not seen as an illegal act. But owing to international pressures, now Iceland has woken up to the needs to ban whaling. Icelanders are now more aware and conscious of the problems associated with whaling. Iceland is co-operating with the rest of the world to conserve its population of whales. Measures are being taken to hunt whales in such numbers as not to disturb the natural balance. Whales now have a better chance of surviving in the waters of Iceland.
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