Selling whales as food

last updated 8 January 2015

Oslo, Norway

Norway has announced it will defy a global ban on commercial whaling to sell whale meat to Iceland. Norway resumed killing whales for domestic consumption nearly 10 years ago, refusing to agree to the general international ban on whaling imposed in 1986. It has continued to pioneer new hunting methods, such as the exploding cartridge known as Whalegrenade-99. Whaling officials say the weapon is more humane than other harpoons, as it kills the animals quickly and with the first shot. Oslo said it will issue an export license next week for up to 15 tons of minke whale meat. Minke whales are listed as threatened, but not endangered.