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SLAYEDINICELANDThecommercialhuntingandinternationaltradeinendangeredfinwhalesINTRODUCTIONICELAND'SWHALINGHISTORYICELAND'S21STCENTURYWHALINGOPPOSITIONTOICELAND'SWHALINGHVALUR:AWHALINGDYNASTYHVALUR'SFINWHALETRADEHVALUR'SCONTROLOFTHEWHALEMEATMARKETINJAPANISTHEREAMARKETFORICELANDICFINWHALECONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONS123568101113CONTENTSCOVERIMAGE:EIAACKNOWLEDGEMENTSEIAusesIBMi2intelligenceanalysissoftware.
Reportdesignby:www.
designsolutions.
me.
ukSeptember2014ANIMALWELFAREINSTITUTE(AWI)900PennsylvaniaAve.
,SEWashington,DC20003Tel:(202)337-2332Fax:(202)446-2131email:awi@awionline.
orgwww.
awionline.
orgENVIRONMENTALINVESTIGATIONAGENCY(EIA)62/63UpperStreetLondonN10NY,UKTel:+44(0)2073547960Fax:+44(0)2073547961email:ukinfo@eia-international.
orgwww.
eia-international.
orgWHALEANDDOLPHINCONSERVATION(WDC)BrookfieldHouse38StPaulStreetChippenhamWiltshire,SN151LJ,UKTel:+44(0)1249449500Fax+44(0)1249449501email:info@whales.
orgwww.
whales.
orgLifeInvestigationAgencyIcelandicfinwhalemeatbeingunloadedinOsakaport,Japan1Thefinwhaleisthesecondlargestspeciesontheplanet–agiantatmorethan20metresinlengthbutabletoswimatspeedsinexcessof35kmperhour,earningitthenickname'greyhoundofthesea'.
Fordecadesitwasthetargetofindustrial-scalecommercialwhalingoperationswhosefactoryfleetsdecimatedwhalepopulationsinalloceans.
Thewholesaleslaughterendedin1986withtheimplementationoftheInternationalWhalingCommission's(IWC)moratoriumoncommercialwhaling.
However,thedamagedonetothefinwhalewasalreadycatastrophic;almost30yearslateritremainsanendangeredspecies.
1Despiteitsstatusandeventhoughthereisnolocaldemandforitsmeat,Icelandpermitsthehuntingoffinwhales,aswellasthesmallerminkewhale,intheNorthAtlantic.
Since2006,theIcelandicwhalingcompanyHvalurhfhaskilledmorethan500finwhales,purelytoexploitalimiteddemandforwhalemeatandblubberinJapan.
Overthepasteightyears,Hvalurhasexportedmorethan5,000tonnesoffinwhaleproductsfromIcelandtoJapan,includingarecordsingleshipmentof2,071tonnesin2014.
TheseexportsareworthanestimatedUS$50millionandIceland'sescalatingwhalehuntsareclearandwilfulabusesoftheIWC'smoratoriumaswellasthebanoninternationalcommercialtradeinwhaleproductsimposedbytheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora(CITES).
Iceland'swhalingandassociatedtradearestronglyopposedbytheinternationalcommunity;dozensofgovernmentshaveagreedtoseveralstronglywordeddiplomaticprotests(démarches)againstIcelandsinceitresumedwhalingin2003andtheUnitedStatesGovernmenthasrecentlyimplementedmoreextensivebilateraldiplomaticmeasuresagainstIcelandtoprotestitswhalingandtrade.
Sofar,however,politicalanddiplomaticeffortsagainstIceland'swhalinghavebeeninsufficienttoprovokeachangeinpolicy.
Afteratwo-yearhiatusin2011and2012,whichitattributedtomarketdisruptioncausedbytheMarch2011earthquakeandtsunamiinJapan,Icelandresumedfinwhalingwithevenhigherquotas.
InDecember2013,Iceland'sMinistryofFisheriesissuedafive-yearblockquotafor154finwhalesperyear–asmanyas770overthewholeperiod.
AtthecentreoftheindustryisKristjánLoftsson,theExecutiveDirectorofHvalurwhokeptIceland'swhalingfleetintactwhenmostotherwhalingnationsacceptedthemoratoriumandrepurposedorscrappedtheirvessels.
ConvincedthatJapanstillrepresentsaviablemarketforfinwhaleproducts,HvalurhasusedtheresourcesofIcelandicfishinggiantHBGranditokeeptheshipmentsflowingtoJapan.
ThisreportprovidesbackgroundinformationonIceland'swhalingandwhaleproductexportsandexposestheconnectionsbetweenHvalurandtheIcelandiccompanieswhich–ifgivensufficientmotivation–havethepowertofinallyendthehunt.
AnimalWelfareInstitute(AWI)EnvironmentalInvestigationAgency(EIA)WhaleandDolphinConservation(WDC)September2014EIAINTRODUCTIONInthelongandbloodyhistoryofcommercialwhaling,Icelandisoneofthemostnotoriousprotagonists,killingmorethan35,000whalessincethelate19thcenturyandopposingorcircumventingalleffortsbytheinternationalcommunitytoregulatewhalingandpreventthedecimationofwhalepopulations.
ThemainstageforIceland'sinfamyhasbeentheInternationalWhalingCommission(IWC),ofwhichitwasafoundingmemberin1946.
Overtime,unabletopreventIcelandandothernationsfromexceedingquotas,killingundersizedwhalesandtargetingprotectedspecies,2theIWCeventuallyrecognisedthatnothinglessthanatotalbanwouldprotectwhalesandallowdepletedpopulationstorebuild.
In1982,theCommissionadoptedthemoratoriumprohibitingthehuntingofallthe'greatwhales'3forcommercialpurposes,whichbecameeffectivein1986.
AlthoughIcelandvotedagainstthemoratoriumin1982,afterabitterparliamentarydebateitdidnotregisteraformalobjectiontothedecision,unliketheSovietUnion,Japan4andNorway.
Itwasthereforelegallyobligatedtocomplywiththemoratorium.
However,whileIcelandceasedcommercialwhalingin1985inaccordancewiththemoratorium,itsoonbeganexploitingArticleVIIIoftheInternationalConventionfortheRegulationofWhaling(ICRW),thetreatywhichestablishedtheIWCandallowswhalingunder'specialpermit'forscientificpurposes.
Iceland,likeJapan,usedthisloopholetocatchwhalesonacommercialscaleundertheguiseofresearchtocircumventthenewmoratorium.
5Between1986-89,Icelandicwhalerskilled292finwhalesand60seiwhales.
AllwerekilledinthenameofsciencebutmostoftheresultingproductswereexportedtoJapanforcommercialsale,despitea1986consensusResolutionoftheIWCstatingthatthewhaleproductsshouldbeutilised"primarilyforlocalconsumption".
6Ultimately,ittookapublicboycottofIcelandicfishinEuropeandtheUS,plusthethreatofUSGovernment-imposedtradesanctions,topersuadeIcelandtoquitwhalingwhenitsresearchwhalingprogrammeconcludedin1989.
7IcelandlefttheIWCin1992,havingceasedwhalingentirely.
2EIAICELAND'SWHALINGHISTORY"Between1986-89,Icelandicwhalerskilled292finwhalesand60seiwhales.
"Lessthanadecadelater,Icelandwasbackslaughteringwhales.
In2000,itjoinedCITESwithareservationtotheAppendixIlistingofgreatwhales,includingfinwhales,whichprohibitsinternationaltradeintheirproducts.
ThereservationenabledIcelandtotradewhaleproductslegallywithNorwayandJapan,whichalreadyheldreservationsagainstthelistingforfinwhales.
ItthentriedthesametacticattheIWCannualmeeting,attemptingin2001andMay2002torejoinwithareservationtothecommercialwhalingmoratorium.
Althoughtheseeffortswererejected,IcelandwasultimatelyacceptedasamemberoftheIWCinOctober2002afterahighlycontentiousvote,withaslightlyre-worded'reservation'which,itclaimed,revokeditspreviousacceptanceoftheban.
8Atthattime,alargenumberofIWCpartiesassertedthatIceland'sreservationwasincompatiblewiththeobjectandpurposeoftheICRWandnotpermissibleunderinternationallaw,with16countriesofficiallyobjectingtothereservation(Argentina,Australia,Brazil,Chile,Finland,France,Germany,Monaco,TheNetherlands,Peru,Portugal,SanMarino,Spain,Sweden,theUKandtheUS).
Italy,MexicoandNewZealandofficiallyrejectedboththereservationandIceland'smembershipintheIWC.
9Despitethis,Icelandwastednotimeinresumingwhaling.
Iceland'sdisputedreservationhadstateditwouldnotstartcommercialwhalinguntil2006butwithineightmonthsofrejoiningtheIWC,itannouncedanewspecialpermitprogrammeunderwhichitplannedtokill50sei,100finand100minkewhalesannuallyovertwoyearsfor"scientific"purposes.
10Thisprogrammewassubsequentlyextendedtofiveyears,duringwhichIcelandtookatotalof200minkewhalesinblatantdefianceoftheIWC'sstatementin2003that"ArticleVIIIoftheConventionisnotintendedtobeexploitedinordertoprovidewhalemeatforcommercialpurposesandshallnotbesoused".
11THERESUMPTIONOFCOMMERCIALWHALINGIn2006,wellbeforepublishinganyresearchfindingsfromits'specialpermit'hunt,Icelandresumedcommercialwhalingunderitsdisputedreservation,settingitselfahunting3ICELAND'S21STCENTURYWHALINGFIGURE1:NumberofwhaleskilledunderIceland'sspecialpermitandcommercialwhalingprogrammessincethemoratoriumSource:http://iwc.
int/catches250200150100500SeiwhalesMinkewhalesFinwhales19861987YearTotalnumberofwhaleskilled198819891990-200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013"ArticleVIIIoftheConventionisnotintendedtobeexploitedinordertoprovidewhalemeatforcommercialpurposesandshallnotbesoused.
"2003IWCResolutiononwhalingunderspecialpermit4quotaof30minkeandninefinwhales,12ultimatelykillingoneminkeandsevenfinwhales,inadditionto60minkewhaleskilledfor'scientific'research(seeFigure1).
Ittooksixminkewhalesin2007and38in2008,13butnumberssoonescalated.
In2009,thenfisheriesministerEinarKGufinnssonincreasedquotasto150finand100-150minkewhalesayearfrom2009-13.
14Ultimately,Hvalurtook126finwhalesin2009and148in2010,whileminkewhalerskilled81and60minkewhalesthosesameyears.
15Between2011and2012,citingJapan'sMarch2011earthquakeandtsunami,Hvalurdidnotengageinanyfinwhaling16butcontinuedtoexportwhaleproductstoJapan.
Minkewhaling,however,continuedduringthisperiod,withatotalof110killedin2011and2012,mainlyforthedomesticmarket.
Icelandresumedfinwhalingin2013,killing134finsinadditiontothe35minkewhaleskilledthatyear.
17InDecember2013,theFisheriesMinistryissuedanewfive-yearblockquotafor154finwhalesperyear,plusacarry-overof20percent.
18ThiswasfollowedinMarch2014byasix-yearblockquotaofupto229minkewhalesperyear"basedonadvicefromtheMarineResearchInstitute"plusapotentialcarry-overofupto20percentofanyunusedquotafromthepreviousyear.
19AsofSeptember2,minkewhalershavetaken22minkewhaleswhileHvalurhaskilled100finwhalesinthe2014whalingseason.
20EIAMikeTetleyTOP:FinwhalelandedinHvalfjrduronAugust14,2014.
ABOVE:MinkewhalesarealsotargetedincommercialhuntsinIceland.
Iceland'swhalingiscontroversialnotjustbecauseitisconductedindefianceoftheIWC'smoratoriumbutalsoduetoconservationandwelfareconcerns.
Itsquotasareself-allocatedandhavenotbeenapprovedbyeithertheIWC'sScientificCommitteeortheCommission.
Althoughthecommercialwhalingmoratoriumremainsinplace,theIWChasdevelopedaRevisedManagementProcedure(RMP)whichrunssimulationsofpossiblequotastotesttheirpotentialimpactonwhalestocks.
InthecaseofNorthAtlanticfinwhales,Iceland'squotasaremorethanthreetimeswhatwouldbedeemedsafebytheScientificCommitteeundertheRMPifthewhalingbanwerenotinplace.
21IcelandhasalsofailedtoattendtowelfareissuesraisedbytheIWC.
Until2014,forexample,ithadnotcollectedanydataonthetimethatwhalestaketodieineitheritsfinorminkewhalehunts,norhaditreportedontheefficiencyofitsexplodingharpoons.
Infact,thewhalinglicenseissuedtoHvalurdoesnotevenrequireittorecordthenumberofharpoongrenadesituses.
22IcelandhasalsofailedtoproviderequiredinformationtotheIWConthetypeandamountofproductsgeneratedbyitswhalingindustries.
23Iceland'srenegadewhalingandtradeinwhaleproductshasgenerateddiplomaticprotests;awiderangeofcountrieshaveadoptedfourstronglywordeddémarchesagainstthecountrysince200324andseveralmembersoftheEuropeanUnion(EU)assertedthattheywouldblockIceland's2009applicationtojointheEUifitcontinuedtohuntandexportwhales.
25Whalingbecameakeyissueintheaccessionnegotiations,althoughIcelandultimatelysuspendeditsapplicationinSeptember2013.
TheUSGovernmenthastwiceinitiateddiplomaticactionagainstIcelandinresponsetoa2010petitionfiledbyconservationandanimalwelfareorganisationsunderconservationlegislationknownasthePellyAmendmenttotheFisherman'sProtectiveAct.
In2011andagainin2014,PresidentObamaassertedthat"Iceland'sactionsthreatentheconservationstatusofanendangeredspeciesandunderminemultilateraleffortstoensuregreaterworldwideprotectionforwhales"andissuedaseriesofdirectivestoallCabinetSecretariesandheadsofgovernmentagenciestourgeIcelandtoceaseitscommercialwhalingactivities.
26ThepublicisalsodeeplyopposedtoIceland'swhalingandpreparedtotakeactioninresponsetosuchkilling.
AccordingtoopinionpollsconductedinUK,82percentofpeopledisagreewithIceland'sactionsandalmosttwo-thirdswouldavoidbuyingrelatedIcelandicproductsinprotest.
FiguresaresimilarintheUS.
27AnewsurveyconductedinJuly2014byORCInternationalsuggestsanevengreaterwillingnessbythepublictoengageinactivism;90percentofpeoplepolledintheUKandGermanyopposeIceland'sresumptionofcommercialwhalingandmorethanfouroutoffiveareunlikelytopurchaseseafoodfromcompanieslinkedtowhaling.
28Harnessingthiscitizenpower,conservationandanimalprotectionorganisationsincludingAWI,EIA,ProWildlifeandWDCaretargetingconsumersinthemainmarketsforIcelandicexports.
PointingouttheclearconnectionsbetweenIceland'swhalingindustryandIcelandiccompaniesexportingseafoodandotherproducts,theyareworkingwithlocalactivistsinarangeofcountriestourgeconsumers,wholesalersandretailerstoavoidIcelandicfishtaintedwiththebloodofwhales.
Theyarealsotargetingshippingcompanies,callingonthemnottobeinvolvedinthetransportofwhalemeatwithinIcelandorinoverseasshipments.
5AWIOPPOSITIONTOICELAND'SWHALING"MorethanfouroutoffivepeoplepolledintheUKandGermanyareunlikelytopurchaseseafoodfromcompanieslinkedtowhaling.
"6AlthoughHvalurbegancommercialwhalingin1948,theoriginsofthecompanycanbetracedbackto1936whentwofishermen,LofturBjarnasonandVilhjálmurArnason,purchasedsharesinafishingvesselnamedtheVenus.
29ThiswasthebeginningofaseafooddynastythatcontinuestodominateIceland'sfishingandwhalingindustriestothisday,anddescendantsofbothmenarestillactivelyengagedinwhaling.
Thebest-knownisLofturBjarnason'sson,KristjánLoftsson,thefaceofIceland'scommercialwhalingindustry.
30FollowingtheSecondWorldWar,HvalurconvertedtheformerUSnavalbaseatHvalfjrurintoawhalingstation,andfrom1948until1989thecompanycaughtanaverageof220finwhalesayear.
31Thecompanyownsfourwhalingvessels,althoughonlytwo,theHvalur8andHvalur9,arecurrentlyoperational.
HvaluralsoownsandoperatesafreezerfacilityinHafnarfjrur,andinJuneof2013itappliedforanextensionofitspermitfromthelocalhealthauthoritiestocut,packageandstoremeatatthatfacility.
Thepermitwasgrantedforaperiodof12years.
32Hvalur,inadditiontoitswhalingactivities,isoneofthelargestinvestmentcompaniesinIceland.
Hvalur'slargestsingleasset(roughlytwo-thirdsofitstotalassets)isitssignificantshareinIceland'sleadingfishingcompany,HBGrandi,mainlyviasharesintheholdingcompany,Vogun.
33KristjánLoftssonisExecutiveDirectorofbothHvalurandVogun,aswellastheChairoftheBoardofDirectorsofHBGrandi.
34HvalurislinkedtoanumberofIceland'sleadingcompanies,includingHampijan,35afishinggearcompany,andNyherji,aninformationtechnologyfirm.
36HVALUR:AWHALINGDYNASTYFIGURE2:ThelinksbetweenHvalurandHBGrandi7EIAEIAEIAHBGRANDI:ANACTIVEPARTOFICELAND'SFINWHALINGINDUSTRYHBGrandiandHvalurareinextricablylinked(seeFig2).
ThreecompaniesdirectlyconnectedtoHvalur–Hampijan,FiskveiihlutafelagiVenushfandVogun–control49.
7percentofthesharesinHBGrandi,asofMarch2014.
37HBGrandi'sfish-processingfacilityinAkraneshasbeenusedtoprocessfinwhaleproductseveryyearthatcommercialfinwhalinghastakenplace,including2014.
ThefinwhalemeatistakenfromtheHvalurwhalingstationinHvalfjrurandtransportedbytrucktoAkraneswhereitiscutandpackagedintoboxesbearingthedescription"frozenwhalemeat"inbothEnglishandJapanese.
FromAkranes,themeatistruckedtotheHvalurfreezerfacilityinHafnarfjrur,whereitisstoreduntilexport.
Today,HBGrandiholdsatotalof166,500metrictonnesoffishquotas,makingitoneofIceland'slargestquotaholders.
Onaspecies-by-speciesbreakdown,HBGrandicontrolssignificantsharesofanumberoffishspecies,includingcod(bothIcelandicandBarentsSea),haddock,saitheandherring.
Thecompanydominatestheproductionofredfish,holding31percentofIceland'soceanicredfishquotaand32percentoftheredfishquota.
38HBGrandiisalsoasignificantproducerofmasago(capelinroe)fortheworldsushimarket,39andisoneofthelargestseafoodexportingcompaniesinIceland.
HBGrandihasnumeroussubsidiaries,amongthemGrandiLimitadaandStofnfiskur,andthecompanyholdsa20percentshareintheChileanfisheriesandaquaculturecompanyDerisSA(Friosur).
40Inthepastyear,thecompanyhasboughtoutseveralothers,includingVignirGJónssonandLaugafiskur.
411.
HBGrandilogo.
2.
HBGrandifacilityinAkranes,wherefinwhalemeatwasunloadedonAugust14,2014.
3.
TheHBGrandifacilitycontainspilesofboxeslabelled'frozenwhalemeat'inbothEnglishandJapanese.
4.
Trucktransportingwhalemeatfromthewhalingstation.
5.
ThesametruckunloadingfinwhalemeatforprocessingattheHBGrandifacilityinAkranes.
6.
ThepackagedmeatisthentransportedtotheHvalurfreezerfacilityinHafnarfjrurbeforebeingexportedtoJapan.
EIAEIAEIA1245638AsofJune2014,morethan5,540tonnesofwhaleproducts,almostallofitfinwhale,havebeenexportedtoJapanfromIcelandsince2008.
Some41percentofthetotalexportoccurredinthefirstthreemonthsof2014,representinganunprecedentedescalationintheinternationaltradeofwhaleproducts.
Thewhaleexportsareworthanestimated5.
9billionIcelandickróna,morethanUS$50million.
42AlthoughmostminkewhalemeatisconsumeddomesticallyinIceland,thesamecannotbesaidoffinwhalemeat.
FinwhaleblubberissoldinsomeIcelandicsupermarketsbutsuchsalesappeartobelargelylimitedtotraditionalholidaytimes.
RecentconsumersurveysconductedbyCapacentGallupfortheInternationalFundforAnimalWelfareshowthatonlythreepercentofIcelanderseatwhalemeatregularly,while75percentnevereatwhalemeat.
43Withahumanpopulationoffewerthan330,000,itisclearthatIceland'swhalingindustry,particularlyitsfinwhalingindustry,isdependentonexportsforitssurvival.
Afteranexperimentalexportin2008,Iceland'sexportoffinwhaleproductstoJapanbeganinearnestinJune2010,with764tonnesexportedthatyear.
Thisgrewto942tonnesin2011andtomorethan1,041tonnesin2012,eventhoughnofinwhalehunttookplaceinIcelandthoseyears.
Exportsdroppedto387tonnesin2013buthaveescalateddramaticallyin2014.
Inthefirstsixmonthsalone,Icelandexportedmorethan2,300tonnesofwhaleproducts,almostentirelyfinwhale,toJapan,includingarecordsingleshipmentof2,071tonnesinMarch44whichrepresentsanentireannualquotaoffinwhalesandexceedstheentiresupplyofwhaleproductsfromJapan'scombined'scientific'huntsintheAntarcticandNorthPacificin2013.
45Todate,thethreeshipmentsin2014havebeenworthmorethan1.
7billionIcelandickrona(US$15million),bringingthetotalvalueoffinwhalemeatexportedbyIcelandsince2008to5.
9billionIcelandickrona(morethanUS$50million).
46HvaluristakingadvantageofarecentdropinsupplyofwhalemeatfromJapan'sownwhalingfleettoexportadditionalwhalemeatandincreaseitsprofits.
JapanhastakenfewerwhalesintheAntarcticinrecentyearsandwillnotengageinAntarcticwhalinginthe2014/15seasoninresponsetotheMarch2014rulingoftheInternationalCourtofJustice(ICJ)againstits'scientific'whalingprogramme.
47Hvalurhasmorethanfilledthegap;EIAHVALUR'SFINWHALETRADETABLE1.
WHALEPRODUCTSEXPORTEDFROMICELANDTOJAPAN81,774134,02688,191149,192129,600129,915133,348289,134129,600133,951131,706128,010129,180129,540131,615130,697129,838129,200132,418128,784129,320129,727128,955127,82242,038211,8392,071,3585,540,77894,038,488308,215,584152,626,830216,675,981210,273,467209,255,604197,344,751463,820,82098,382,018134,779,969208,983,318223863127103,076,08438,082,513173,335,984133,924,135279,312,550219,523,528151,704,332153,849,907118,374,043157,286,67435,437,674100,265,53555,307,398199,421,3391,495,344,6195,932,506,2722008-June*2010-January2010-March2010-April2010-August2010-September2010-October2011-March2011-April2011-July2011-August2011-September**2011-October2012-January2012-February2012-April2012-June2012-July2012-August2012-September2012-November2013-April2013-June2013-July2014-January2014-February2014-MarchKgMonthofexportValueISKTOTAL(HScode'02084002'-otherfrozenwhaleproducts)*exportedunderHScode2084011**includes635kgexportedunderHScode2084011Source:www.
statice.
is9TABLE2.
WHALEPRODUCTSIMPORTEDBYJAPANFROMICELAND66,57333,40521,600109,104255,00086,40064,425103,29189,775128,86529,90663,67554,896126,37682,644105,675188,82082,720115,993116,94158,043127,65097,980642,217120,65132,46021,964100,504322,31272,378131,08371,88346,14983,62434,80615,95051,43631,59380,65666,847250,49550,81293,98679,53144,38839,51556,132312,153-13,86668,80264,74019,490-43,17379,89233,15539,698-128,22882,75144,54321,86762,27544,80410,91852,10748,08042,825-51,605163,25795,52548,725-77,552105,82544,55956,390-152,947115,36838,90330,62488,81551,61015,06062,70052,76267,29966,57313,866102,20786,340128,594255,000129,573144,317136,446129,473128,865128,228112,65763,67554,896126,376127,187127,542251,095127,524126,911116,941110,150127,650146,060685,0423,753,1882008-October2008-December2010-June2010-July2010-September2010-November2011-January2011-May2011-June2011-August2011-September2011-November2011-December2012-January2012-March2012-May2012-July2012-September2012-October2012-December2013-January2013-March2013-June2013-July2014-May2014-JuneWhalemeat(HSCode'020840011')Marinemammalfat/oilandfractionsthereof(blubber)(HSCode'150430090')TotalwhaleproductKgMonthofimportValue(1000yen)KgKgValue(1000yen)TOTALWHALEPRODUCTIMPORTED(kgs)itisnowdominatingtheJapanesemarket.
Indeed,theMarch2014shipmentrepresentsthelargestsinglesourceofwhalemeatintheJapanesemarket.
DECIPHERINGTHETRADEDATATradestatisticsmaintainedbytheGovernmentofJapanshowthatasofJune2014,3,753tonnesofwhaleproduct,comprising2,852tonnesofwhalemeatand901tonnesofwhaleblubber,havebeenimportedsince2008.
Incontrast,Iceland'stradestatisticsshowexportstotalling5,540tonnestoJapan.
48InterpretinginternationaltradedataforfinwhaleproductsishamperedbyIcelandandJapanusingdifferentHarmonisedSystem(HS)codestoclassifytheproducts.
WhilefinwhaleproductsareexportedfromIcelandlabelledas"otherfrozenwhaleproducts"(HScode02084002),theshipmentsareclassifiedbyJapan'sCustomsAuthorityintotwoseparateproducts–whalemeat(HS020840011)and"fatsandoilsofmarinemammals"(HS150430090),i.
e.
whaleblubber.
ThereisalsoadelaybetweentheimportdateoftheshipmentintoJapananditsappearanceinJapanesetradestatistics.
Forexample,whileitisknownthattheMarch2014shipmentofover2,000tonnesofIcelandic[fin]whalemeatarrivedinOsakainearlyMayaboardtheAlma,theJuneimportstatisticsfromJapanshowedonlyapartialimportof685tonnesofwhalemeatandblubber.
Iceland'sgrowingtradeinwhaleproductswithJapanandNorwaytakesplaceunderCITESreservationswhichwereneverintendedtobeusedtocircumventitsprotectionsonsuchamassivescale.
Asnotedina2013reporttoCITESbytheUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgrammesWorldConservationMonitoringCentre,large-scaletradeunderreservationsuchasIceland'smay"underminetheeffectivenessofAppendixIlistings".
49"Inthefirstsixmonthsof2014,Icelandexportedmorethan2,300tonnesofwhaleproducts.
"Source:www.
customs.
go.
jp10LifeInvestigationAgencyHVALUR'SCONTROLOFTHEWHALEMEATMARKETINJAPANEIATOP:IcelandicfinwhalemeatunloadedinOsaka,Japan,May2014.
ABOVELEFT:The'office'ofMisakaCompanyLtdinYokohama,2011.
Thecompanyaddresshassincechanged.
ABOVERIGHT:IcelandicfinwhalemeatonsaleinTsukijifishmarket,Tokyo.
EIAKristjánLoftssonisnotjustbenefitingfromHvalur'ssalesoffinwhalemeattoJapan,heisactivelyinvolvedintheimports.
AllIcelandicfinwhaleproductsimportedbyJapanarereceivedbyMisakaTradingCoLtd,whichwasestablishedin2009asaseafoodimport/exportandtradingcompanywithcapitalof2.
5million(US$26,000).
50AccordingtointerviewsconductedbyEIAin2011withMrSakaguchi,oneofMisakaTrading'sdirectors,hesetupthecompanyattherequestofKristjánLoftssonwhoprovidedoperatingcostsandisroutinelyconsultedonthecompany'sdecisions,includingthepriceatwhichfinwhaleproductsaresold.
MrSakaguchitoldEIAthatHvalurpaidalltheimportcostsforfinwhalemeatandthatMisakaTradingsoldonaconsignmentbasis,explainingthat"untiltheproductsaresold,everythingisbelongingtoIceland.
Themeatandeverything.
"51Atthetime,MrSakaguchiestimatedthatMisakaTradingLtdwasmakingaprofitofapproximately1millionto1.
5million(US$12,320to$18,480)pertonneoffinwhaleproduct.
11EIA's2011investigationinJapandemonstratedthegrowingavailabilityofIcelandicfinwhalethroughmajorwholesalemarkets(eg,Tokyo,Osaka,Shimonoseki)aswellasviawhaletradingcompaniesoronlineretailerssuchasAmazon,RakutenandYahoo!
Japan.
AlthoughthedevastatingearthquakeandtsunamiinMarch2011destroyedkeyJapaneseprocessingfacilitiesthatwereimportantdistributorsofIcelandicfinwhale,52Hvalurneverthelesskeptexportingfromitsstockpilesand,asthemarketrecovered,increaseditsdominationbythesheervolumeofitsproductandbyundercuttingthepricesofJapanesewhalemeat.
Forexample,themostrecentimportof652tonnesofIcelandicfinwhalemeatwasvaluedat486/kg(US$4.
67/kg).
Incontrast,Japan'sInstituteforCetaceanResearchsetsthesalepriceforthemostcommoncutofwhalemeatatalmostthreetimestheprice–1,400/kg(US$13.
46/kg).
53CampaignsledbyEIAandHumaneSocietyInternationalhaveunderminedsalesofwhalemeatinJapan,persuadingseveralmajorJapanesesupermarketchainsaswellasAmazonandRakuten,Japan'slargestinternetretailer,tostopsellingwhaleanddolphinproducts.
54AspokespersonforHinoShoten,awhaletradingcompanywhichhadbeensellingIcelandicfinwhaleviaRakuten,statedthat"theeffectsofprohibitingsalesofwhalemeatonRakutenareenormous",notingthathiscompanyhadpreviouslybeensellingwhalemeatworthtensofmillionsofyenthroughtheretailsite.
55However,IcelandicfinwhalecanstillbeeasilyfoundforsaleonlineinJapanonwhalemeatcompanywebsitesorviainternetretailerssuchasYahoo!
Japanwhichsellavarietyofproductsincludingcannedfinwhale,whalesashimiandfinwhalebacon.
56ActivistshaveengagedwithboththecompaniesshippingHvalurproductsandtheportsthroughwhichtheshipmentspassinanefforttobringanendtotheinternationaltradeinwhalemeat.
Forexample,inJuly2013GreenpeaceandotherNGOssuccessfullyprotestedashipmentenroutetoJapanviaRotterdamandthenHamburg,resultinginthe130tonneshipmentoffinwhaleproductsbeingreturnedtoIceland.
Asaresultoftheensuingpublicity,shippingcompaniesSamskipandEvergreenpledgedtonolongercarrywhaleproducts.
57ThePortofRotterdamurgedshippingcompaniestostopthetransportofwhalemeattoJapanandcalledonotherEuropeanportstodothesame;however,noregulationshavebeenenactedandwhaleproductscanstilltransitthroughEuropeanports.
58HvalurhastriedtoremainonestepaheadofprotestorsbysecuringotherroutestoJapan,includingcharteringaCypriot-flaggedvessel,theAlma,fromacompanylinkedtoSamskip59forthemassiveMarch2014shipmentoffinwhaleproductstoJapan.
TheAlmaavoidedEuropeanportsbytravellingsouthalongthewestcoastofAfricaandthentransitedtheIndianOceanonitswaytoOsaka,Japan,stoppingoffonlyonce,atPortLouis,Mauritius,butalsogeneratingpublicprotestsinDurban,SouthAfrica.
60ISTHEREAMARKETFORICELANDICFINWHALETOP:CannedfinwhalemeatofferedforsalebyKinoyaCompanyLtd.
ABOVE:JapanesewebsitededicatedtothesaleofIcelandicwhaleproducts.
EIAWhalemeathasalsobeensenttoJapanviaCanada,wherethemeatwastransportedbytrainfromHalifaxtoVancouver.
61TwocontainerseventuallymadetheirwaytotheportofSeattleintheUSandwereapparentlyclearedbyofficialswithUSCustomsandBorderProtection.
BillofladinginformationobtainedbyAWIidentifiestheshipperasHvalurandtheconsigneeasMisakaTradingCoLtd.
Itisassumed,basedontheconsigneedata,thatthewhalemeattransitedthroughSeattleandeventuallyarrivedinJapan,butactualmovementsbeyondtheendofJanuary2014areunclear.
AWIhascalledforafullinvestigationbyUSauthoritiesintothematter,includingthemannerinwhichtheshipmentcontentsweredescribedonthebillofladingandapparentmisuseofaHarmonisedSystem(HS)codeindicatingthattheshipmentcontainedfrozenrabbitmeat.
62EXPORTSTONORWAYIcelandhasrecentlyexportedwhaleproductstoNorwayunderbothcountries'respectivereservationstotheCITESAppendixIlisting.
Thefirstshipmentof14,141kgofwhalemeattookplaceinFebruaryof2013,whilethesecond,950kgof"frozenwhaleproducts",occurredinDecember2013.
63WhileNorwegianimportdatashowsthefirstshipment,nomatchingexportdatacanbefoundinIceland'stradedatabase.
Thesecond,whichisnotedinIcelandictradedata,wassubsequentlyre-exportedtoJapaninconjunctionwithashipmentofwhaleblubberfromaNorwegiancompany,Lofothval,whichispart-owned(12percent)byKristjánLoftsson.
64ThecombinedIcelandic/Norwegianshipmenttotalled3,100kgandwassenttoKyodoSenpakuKaisha,thecompanywhichconductsJapan's'scientific'whaling,inFebruary2014.
KyodoSenpaku'sinvolvementwiththeimportofIcelandicandNorwegiancommerciallyhuntedwhalesisyetmoreproofthatJapan'swhalinghasnothingtodowithscience.
EIA12FreightcompanyEimskipisinvolvedinthedomesticandinternationaltransportofIcelandicfinwhaleproducts.
IWCContractingGovernmentsshouldpubliclydenounceIceland'scommercialwhalingindustry,encourageIcelandtoceaseallcommercialwhalingandinternationaltrade,andwithdrawitsreservationstothecommercialwhalingmoratoriumandCITESAppendixIlistingsofthegreatwhales;IWCContractingGovernmentswhicharealsoPartiestoCITESshouldchallengeIceland'sabuseofitsreservationwhichisallowingmassiveinternational,commercialtradeinwhalemeatandproducts;thePresidentoftheUnitedStates,undertheauthorityprovidedbythePellyAmendmenttotheFishermen'sProtectiveAct,shouldimmediatelyconsidertheimpositionoftargetedeconomictradesanctionsagainstIcelandiccompaniesthataredirectlylinkedtowhaling;EUmembercountries(andothercountriesthatmayprovideservicestoconveyancescarryingwhalemeat)shouldencourageports(seaports,airportsandotherportsofarrival)toprohibitanyconveyance(vessel,ship,aircarrier,trainoranyotherconveyance)carryingwhaleproducts,andexamineallmeasurestopermanentlypreventthetransitofprotectedwhalespeciesthroughtheircountries.
Theendofallcommercialor'scientific'whalinginIcelandmustbenon-negotiableinanypotentialfuturediscussionsofIceland'saccessiontotheEU;allcountriesshouldseektousethefullrangeofexistingdiplomaticmeasurestocompelIcelandtopermanentlyendcommercialwhaling;allcompaniespurchasingIcelandicseafoodproductsshouldconductafullandtransparentauditoftheirseafoodsupplychaintodeterminewhethertheyarepurchasingorsellingseafoodfromcompanieslinkedtoIcelandicwhalingeitherdirectly,orelseindirectlyviathirdpartiesorsubsidiaries.
TheyshouldfurtherpubliclystatetheiroppositiontoIceland'scommercialwhaling.
CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONSGREMMSince2006,Icelandhasengagedinthecommercialkillingofendangeredfinwhalesandtheinternationaltradeinfinwhaleproducts.
IthasdonesoincontraventionoftheIWC'scommercialwhalingmoratoriumandtheCITESprohibitionontheinternationaltradeingreatwhales.
Ithasalsoignoredrepeatedinternationalprotestsanddiplomaticmeasuresseekingitscessationofcommercialwhaling.
Icelandclaimsitswhalingissustainablewhenthebestavailablescientificevidencerevealsthatitsfinwhalequotaismorethanthreetimesgreaterthanthelevelconsideredsustainable.
Againstthisbackdrop,itishardtounderstandwhytheIWChasmadenoformalstatementconcerningIceland'scommercialwhaling,evenmoresosince19IWCmembercountriesformallyobjectedtoIceland'sreservationandseveralstatedthattheydonotconsidertheConventionasbeinginforcebetweenIcelandandtheircountries.
Indeed,thisraisesthequestionofwhetherIcelandwasactuallylegallyacceptedbackintotheIWCwithitsreservation.
65ItistimefortheContractingGovernmentstotheIWCandnon-membergovernmentsworldwidetotakestrongdiplomaticandeconomicactiontobringanendtowhatisclearlythemostflagrantabuseofthemoratoriumoncommercialwhalingsinceitsinception.
Withoutsuchaction,Iceland'scommercialwhalinganditsexportsoftheproductsofendangeredfinwhalestoJapanwillcontinue,andHvalur'sdominationoftheJapanesemarketwillgrow.
AWI,EIAandWDCcallontheIWC,governmentsandbusinessesdealingwithIcelandiccompanieslinkedtowhalingtotakeactiontocompelIcelandtoceasecommercialwhalingandtrade:13ENVIRONMENTALINVESTIGATIONAGENCY(EIA)EIA-LONDON62/63UpperStreetLondonN10NY,UKwww.
eia-international.
orgEIA-WASHINGTON,DCPOBox53343Washington,DC20009USAwww.
eia-global.
org1.
Reilly,S.
B.
,Bannister,J.
L.
,Best,P.
B.
,Brown,M.
,BrownellJr.
,R.
L.
,Butterworth,D.
S.
,Clapham,P.
J.
,Cooke,J.
,Donovan,G.
P.
,Urbán,J.
&Zerbini,A.
N.
2013.
Balaenopteraphysalus.
TheIUCNRedListofThreatenedSpecies.
Version2014.
2.
.
LastretrievedAugust25,2014.
ThefinwhaleisalsolistedonAppendixIofCITES.
2.
EIA(1985):"Piratewhaling1985andahistoryofthesubversionofinternationalwhalingregulations",London.
3.
Blue,fin,sei,Bryde's,minke,sperm,gray,right,humpbackandbowheadwhales.
4.
Japanlaterwithdrewitsobjections.
5.
ArticleVIII,InternationalConventionfortheRegulationofWhaling.
SeealsoMarineResearchInstitute(1985):"IntroductorymeetingonwhaleresearchinIcelandandplansforintensifiedresearchintheperiod1986to1989",August16,Reykjavik.
6.
IWCResolution1986-2ResolutiononSpecialPermitsforScientificResearch.
ThetextforallIWCresolutionscanbeaccessedathttp://iwc.
int/resolutionsandIcelandicPirateWhaling1991–illegalwhalemeatexportsandhistoryofIceland'spiratewhalingrecord.
AreportbytheEnvironmentalInvestigationAgency.
15pp7.
Seeforexamplehttp://articles.
orlandosentinel.
com/1989-01-19/news/8901200070_1_burger-king-greenpeace-icelandic-fishandwww.
publicaffairs.
noaa.
gov/releases2004/jun04/noaa04-065.
html8.
http://www.
state.
gov/documents/organization/191052.
pdf.
Thetextofthereservationreads:"Notwithstandingthis[reservation],theGovernmentofIcelandwillnotauthorizewhalingforcommercialpurposesbyIcelandicvesselsbefore2006.
.
.
Thisdoesnotapply,however,incaseoftheso-calledmoratoriumonwhalingforcommercialpurposes,containedinparagraph10(e)oftheSchedule,notbeingliftedwithinreasonabletimeafterthecompletionoftheRevisedManagementScheme.
"9.
http://iwcoffice.
org/_documents/_iceland.
htm10.
Aspersupranote5referencetotheMarineResearchInstitute(1985).
11.
IWCResolution2003-2.
ResolutiononWhalingunderSpecialPermit.
ThetextforallIWCresolutionscanbeaccessedathttp://iwc.
int/resolutions12.
See,eg,http://www.
newscientist.
com/article/dn10354-icelands-whalers-kill-endangered-fin-whale.
html13.
Iceland'scommercialandscientificminkewhalingprogramsoverlappedin2006and2007.
AllcatchstatisticsarebasedoninformationfromtheIWCandFiskistofa,Iceland'sDirectorateofFisheries.
14.
http://www.
smh.
com.
au/news/environment/whale-watch/concern-over-icelands-increased-whale-kill/2009/01/28/1232818515005.
html15.
Asperhttp://iwc.
int/table_objectionandFiskistofa.
16.
Seee.
g.
http://grapevine.
is/news/2013/05/06/whaling-resumes/17.
Aspersupranote15.
18.
1116/2013.
REGLUGERumbreytingáreglugernr.
163,30.
maí1973,umhvalveiar,mesíaribreytingum19.
263/2014REGLUGERumbreytinguáreglugernr.
163,30.
maí1973,umhvalveiar,mesíaribreytingum.
Thecurrentadviceforminkewhalesof229isforwhatisknownastheCICarea,whichcoversIcelandicwaters;inaddition,HAFROhasnotedanadditionalquotaof121minkeintheareanearJanMayen.
20.
PerinformationfromFiskistofa21.
TheIWCScientificCommitteehastestedvariousImplementationSimulationTrialsonlyoneofwhichhasperformedacceptably;iftheScientificCommitteeweretobeaskedtosetquotas,the"acceptable"variantwouldyieldacatchlimitof46,farlowerthanIceland's154finwhalesayear.
SeeIWC/63/15.
Agendaitem16.
InformationnoteonRMPtuningandcatchlimitscalculatedbytheScientificCommittee.
22.
http://www.
althingi.
is/altext/143/s/0582.
html23.
TheIWChasadoptedanumberofResolutionsinvitingContractingGovernmentstoreportontheavailability,sourcesandtradeinwhaleproducts,i.
e.
1994-7,1995-7,1996-3,1997-2and1998-8.
ThisagendaitemprovidestheopportunityforContractingGovernmentstoprovidetheinformationspecifiedintheseResolutions.
Inaddition,paragraph27boftheSchedulecallsongovernmentstoprovideinformationontheproductsresultingfromtheirwhalehunts.
Icelandhasnotprovidedsuchdata,IWCpers.
comm.
July7,2014.
24.
http://uk.
whales.
org/news/2003/09/twenty-three-governments-call-on-iceland-to-reconsider-its-whaling-programme;http://www.
wwf.
org.
uk/wwf_articles.
cfmunewsid=535;http://www.
theguardian.
com/environment/2009/oct/02/iceland-whaling;andhttp://www.
redorbit.
com/news/business/2009848/iceland_whale_slaughter_condemned_by_11_countries/25.
Forexample,a2010resolutionfromtheDutchParliamentonwhalingandtradewhichcalledontheDutchgovernmenttomakeitaconditionofIceland'saccessiontotheEUtostopwhalingandtradeinwhaleproductsandtoensurethatinternationalagreementsarenotbreachedhttps://zoek.
officielebekendmakingen.
nl/kst-23987-113.
html;Also,http://www.
terradaily.
com/reports/Whaling_could_blow_a_hole_in_Icelands_EU_talks_999.
html26.
Seehttp://www.
whitehouse.
gov/the-press-office/2011/09/15/memorandum-regarding-pelly-certification-and-icelandic-whalingandhttp://www.
whitehouse.
gov/the-press-office/2014/04/01/memorandum-pelly-certification-and-icelandic-whaling.
27.
A2009YouGovpollcommissionedbyCampaignWhale,EIA,WDC,IFAW,WSPAandMarineConservationof2,249peopleintheUKfoundthat82percentofthosequerieddisagreedwithIceland'sdecisiontokillwhales,while64percentstatedthattheywouldavoidbuyingIcelandicfish,prawnsandotherproductsinprotest.
A2011pollconductedbyORCCARAVANforGreenpeaceshowedthat83percentofAmericansbelievethatthebanoncommercialwhalingshouldbestrengthened.
A2012pollbytheBenensonStrategyGroup,conductedforIFAW,showedthat77percentoftheAmericanpublicopposescommercialwhaling.
Afurther66percentofrespondentssaidthattheywouldbewillingtostopbuyingproductsfromcompaniesengagedincommercialwhaling.
28.
2014WhalingStudyUKandGermany.
ORCInternational.
ThepollwascommissionedbyAnimalWelfareInstitute(AWI),EnvironmentalInvestigationAgency(EIA),HumaneSocietyInternational(HSI),InternationalFundforAnimalWelfare(IFAW),OceanCare,ProWildlifeandWhaleandDolphinConservation(WDC).
29.
http://timarit.
is/view_page_init.
jsppageId=314407930.
Seee.
g.
http://www.
undercurrentnews.
com/2013/09/03/owner-with-ties-to-whaling-group-ups-indirect-stake-in-hb-grandi/31.
Branch,T.
A.
andButterworth,D.
S.
2006.
AssessmentoftheEastGreenland–Icelandfinwhalepopulationusingafour-areamodel.
JointNAMMCO/IWCScientificWorkshoponthecatchhistory,stockstructureandabundanceofNorthAtlanticfinwhales:33pp.
Reykjavik,Iceland.
32.
http://www.
heilbrigdiseftirlit.
is/Innihald_heimasida/Fundargerdir/2013/240613_fundargerd_nr_181.
htm33.
EigiféHvalssamstunnar13milljararkróna.
Vidskiptabladid.
19.
06.
10.
andHrunihafilítiláhrifáHval,Vidskiptabladid01.
07.
201034.
http://www.
fme.
is/media/lysingar/2014-03-27-GRND-Prospectus-%28final%29.
pdfVogunandHvalursharethesameaddressesaccordingtoIcelandictaxdocuments:48ReykjavikurvegurinHafnarfjrur,andtheHvalurfacilityatMid-SanurinHvalfjrur.
www.
rsk.
isKristjánLoftssonislinkedtotheboardsofthefollowingcompanies:Svluhraunehf.
(Chair),KINEehf.
(Boardmember),Vntinghf.
(BoardmemberandExecutiveDirector),Hampijanhf.
(Boardmember),HBGrandi(Chair),Puralubeáslandihf.
(Boardmember),Sundt-AirIcelandehf.
(Chair),Hvalurhf.
(BoardmemberandExecutiveDirector),Vogunhf.
(BoardmemberandExectiveDirector),FiskveiahlutafélagiVenushf.
(Chair),GrandiLimitada(Chair).
AnotherHBGrandiBoardmember,HalldórTeitsson,isontheboardsonHvalur,VntinghfandVogun.
35.
http://www.
hampidjan.
is/AboutUs/Investors/BoardofDirectors/AmongthetopfourshareholdersinHampijanaretwoshareholdersinHvalur(Vogunhf,andFiskveiihlutafelagiVenushf.
)KristjanLoftssonis,inadditiontohisboardmembership,isalsoamongthetop20ofHampijan's1,370shareholders,andislistedasaprimaryinsiderofthecompany.
http://www.
hampidjan.
is/media/pdf/Hampidjan_hf_2012.
pdfAccordingtoacompanyannualreport,Hampijan,oneoftheworld'sleadingfishinggearcompanies,has"hadinvolvementintheplanningofHBGrandiandinitskeydecisions.
"36.
http://www.
nyherji.
is/um-nyherja/hluthafar/staerstu-hluthafar/ThelinkscomeviashareholdingsbyFiskveiihlutafelagiVenushf.
andVntinghf37.
SamstuársreikningurHBGrandahf.
2013.
ShareholdingsarelikelytohavechangedsinceHBGrandiwentpublicontheNordicNasdaqinApril2014andVogun,FiskveiihlutafelagiVenushf.
andArionbanksoldshares.
https://newsclient.
omxgroup.
com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.
actiondisclosureId=622129&lang=isAlso,thebuy-outsofVignirG.
JónssonandLaugarfiskurentailedsharesinHBGrandi,andasofMarch2014,VGJehfandLF2013ehfowned5.
5percentand0.
9percentofHBGrandishares,respectively.
38.
http://www.
hbgrandi.
is/Veidar/Aflaheimildir39.
In2012,thenChairofHBGrandi,rniVilhjalmsson,stated,"Herein-houseitisbeingwhisperedthatweaccountfor25percentoftheworldproductionofcapelinroe.
"http://hbgrandi.
is/Frettir/Frett/~/NewsId/79940.
HBGrandirssyrsla2013andaspersupranote33.
41.
Aspersupranote32,GrandiProspectus.
42.
AllIcelandicexportstatisticsarebasedondatafromwww.
hagstofa.
is.
43.
http://www.
mbl.
is/frettir/innlent/2013/12/16/3_prosent_neyta_hvalkjots_reglulega/44.
Aspersupranote42.
45.
In2013,1,638tonnesofwhaleproductweresuppliedtotheJapanesemarketfromJapan'sscientificwhalehuntsintheAntarcticandNorthPacific.
persComm.
EIAwithJunkoSakuma.
46.
AsperFoBestimatesfromHagstofawww.
hagstofa.
is47.
http://www.
icj-cij.
org/docket/files/148/18162.
pdfAlthoughJapanwillnothuntinAntarcticseason2014/2015,ithasindicatedthatitwillresumein2015/2016,seehttp://www.
natureworldnews.
com/articles/7953/20140708/whale-hunts-will-resume-in-2015-says-japan-prime-minister.
htm48.
http://www.
customs.
go.
jp/toukei/info/tsdl_e.
htm49.
CITESTrade–AGlobalAnalysisofTradeinAppendix-IListedSpecies.
PreparedbyUNEPWorldConservationMonitoringCentrefortheSixteenthMeetingoftheConferenceoftheParties,Bangkok,Thailand,March3-14,2013.
CoP16Inf.
34.
Availableat:http://www.
cites.
org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/16/inf/E-CoP16i-34.
pdf50.
AsperinformationobtainedbyEIAfromtheMinistryofJusticeinYokohama,March2011,availableuponrequest.
51.
EIAandWDCS(2011).
RenegadeWhaling.
52.
Forexample,in2011EIAidentifiedimportantprocessingcompaniesinOtsuchiandIshinomakithatweresubsequentlydestroyedbythetsunami,seeEIA/WDCSreport2011–RenegadeWhaling.
53.
Seehttp://asia.
nikkei.
com/print/article/24639;currencyexchangerateonAugust31,201454.
SeeannouncementbyRakutenonApril1,2014:http://global.
rakuten.
com/corp/news/press/2014/0401_04.
htmlwhichstates:InaccordancewiththeMarch31,2014rulingbytheInternationalCourtofJustice,RakutenIchibatodayaskedmerchantstocancelsalesofwhalemeatproductsontheRakutenIchibamarketplace.
Rakutenhasalsorequestedthesemerchantstoremoveallrelateditemsfromtheironlineshopswithinthenext30days.
55.
SeearticleAugust12,2014,ICJrulingdarkensfutureforJapanesewhalemeatbusinesseshttp://ajw.
asahi.
com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ20140812000556.
Seee.
g.
http://www.
iceland-whale.
com/,http://store.
shopping.
yahoo.
co.
jp/kitachokuhan/namanagasukujiraakaniku20010.
htmlandhttp://kujirabiyori.
jp/SHOP/16722/99975/list.
html57.
http://grapevine.
is/news/2013/07/10/whale-meat-being-returned-to-iceland/andhttp://www.
dominicantoday.
com/dr/world/2013/7/11/48269/After-Greenpeace-protest-Shipping-companies-committing-themselves-to-send58.
http://www.
greenport.
com/news101/europe/rotterdam-bans-shipping-of-whale-meat59.
AsperEquasisvesseldataandalsopers.
comm.
BenjaminEmmert,FrigoshipChartering,May7,2014.
Samskipholdsa25percentindirectshareintheSilvergreenShippingcompanyinNorwayviaits50percentholdinginSilverSeaAS.
SilvergreenisalsolistedasacharteringagentfortheAlmahttp://silvergreen.
no/Fleet/default.
aspx#andhttp://www.
proff.
no/selskap/silver-sea-as/bergen/shipping-og-sj%C3%B8transport/Z0IAVTRR/.
ThevesselismanagedbyaUkrainiancompany,Yugretransflot.
60.
http://grapevine.
is/news/2014/04/14/ship-containing-whale-meat-turned-away-from-south-african-port/andhttp://www.
tradewindsnews.
com/weekly/336516/whale-meat-reefers-cold-reception-in-port-search61.
http://www.
vancouversun.
com/news/Shock+over+meat+endangered+whales+shipped+through+Canada/9501269/story.
html62.
AccordingtotheBillofLading,thesixdigitHSCodeusedwas020810whichwouldindicatethatthecargowasfrozenrabbitmeatinsteadofwhalemeatwhichwouldbeHSCode020840.
AlthoughclassificationislargelyuniformamongcountriesusingtheHSSystem,nationaldifferencesexistduetojudicialorcustomsrulingsornationallegislation,whichcancomplicatetrackingofgoods.
63.
AsperinformationfromNorway'sstatisticsdatabaseatwww.
ssb.
no,andwww.
hagstofa.
is64.
http://www.
proff.
no/roller/lofothval-as/reine/fisk-og-skalldyr/Z0I4LA9U/"Aksjonrer".
65.
In2002,48countriesweresignatoriestotheICRWand19countriesobjectedtoIceland'saccessionwithareservation.
Therefore,itcanbearguedthatIcelanddidnotmeettheViennaConvention'srequisitefortwo-thirdsofthemembersoftheIWCandsignatoriestotheICRWtomodifytheTreatyanditcanbearguedthatitsreservationwasnotthereforeacceptedbythecompetentorganisationdespitethe2002proceduralvote.
REFERENCES