Since 2007 a total of 335 minke whales have been caught in Faxaflói bay, according to figures from the Ministry of Fisheries. Almost all, or 321, were caught east of a line stretching from the Garðskagaviti lighthouse on the tip of Reykjanes peninsula Garðskagaviti to the village Arnarstapi near the west tip on Snæfellsnes peninsula. This puts virtually the entire minke whale catch inside the borders of a whale sanctuary proposed in 2013.
Read more: More fin and humpback whales, fewer minke whales by Iceland
When whaling was started in 2007 a whale sanctuary was established in Faxaflói bay. The sanctuary extends from Garðskagaviti to the town of Akranes, just north of Reykjavík. One of the goals was to ensure whales were not being caught in the same waters where whale watching boats were operating. However, most of the whales caught just west and north of this line, prompting calls for an expansion of the sanctuary.
In 2013 a government commission proposed that that sanctuary be expanded to a line stretching from Garðskagaviti at the tip of Reykjanes peninsula to Arnarstapi village at the west end of Snæfellsnes peninsula, covering the entire Faxaflói bay. In the spring the ministry of fisheries decided established a somewhat smaller sanctuary, stretching from Garðskagaviti to Skógarnes cape further east on Snæfellsnes farm. However, after the 2013 elections, one of the first acts of the new minister of fisheries was to reverse this decision, re-establishing the 2007 boundary of the sanctuary.
Read more: Whaling is not an Icelandic tradition
The local news site visir.is points out that a breakdown of the figures shows most of the minke whales were caught in 2009, or 74 animals. The number of animals then shrank each year until 2013 when only 11 whales were caught. Since then the number has again shown a steady growth. Last year 29 animals were caught.
Since 2007 a total of 335 minke whales have been caught in Faxaflói bay, according to figures from the Ministry of Fisheries. Almost all, or 321, were caught east of a line stretching from the Garðskagaviti lighthouse on the tip of Reykjanes peninsula Garðskagaviti to the village Arnarstapi near the west tip on Snæfellsnes peninsula. This puts virtually the entire minke whale catch inside the borders of a whale sanctuary proposed in 2013.
Read more: More fin and humpback whales, fewer minke whales by Iceland
When whaling was started in 2007 a whale sanctuary was established in Faxaflói bay. The sanctuary extends from Garðskagaviti to the town of Akranes, just north of Reykjavík. One of the goals was to ensure whales were not being caught in the same waters where whale watching boats were operating. However, most of the whales caught just west and north of this line, prompting calls for an expansion of the sanctuary.
In 2013 a government commission proposed that that sanctuary be expanded to a line stretching from Garðskagaviti at the tip of Reykjanes peninsula to Arnarstapi village at the west end of Snæfellsnes peninsula, covering the entire Faxaflói bay. In the spring the ministry of fisheries decided established a somewhat smaller sanctuary, stretching from Garðskagaviti to Skógarnes cape further east on Snæfellsnes farm. However, after the 2013 elections, one of the first acts of the new minister of fisheries was to reverse this decision, re-establishing the 2007 boundary of the sanctuary.
Read more: Whaling is not an Icelandic tradition
The local news site visir.is points out that a breakdown of the figures shows most of the minke whales were caught in 2009, or 74 animals. The number of animals then shrank each year until 2013 when only 11 whales were caught. Since then the number has again shown a steady growth. Last year 29 animals were caught.
