Sweden has reacted strongly after Icelandic whalers made their
first kill following the country's decision to resume commercial
whaling, local media reported on Monday.
In a press statement, the Swedish government urges Iceland not
to implement its decision. In Sweden's view Iceland is breaking the
international moratorium on commercial whaling imposed by the
International Whaling Commission.
Sweden's environment minister Andreas Carlgren challenged
Iceland to "immediately stop hunting whales." He told the newspaper
Dagens Nyheter that the move amounts to a "provocation against all
those countries which are working in the International Whaling
Commission to restore the decimated whale population."
Carlgren said Sweden will actively work with other countries to
ensure the decision to resume whaling is not implemented.
Icelandic television showed on Sunday footage of a large fin
whale being towed by a whaling boat. The whale was harpooned in the
north Atlantic about 300 kilometers west of Iceland, according to
the report.
Fin whales are an endangered species on the International
Conservation Union's red list. Despite this, Iceland has granted
permission for nine whales to be killed between now and August.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2006)
