Norwegian public’s shock message to IWC delegation

May 28, 2007

Despite the Norwegian Government being staunchly pro-whaling, a public opinion poll released today (Monday, May 28th) reveals that almost two thirds of Norwegians believe that it is unacceptable for a whale to suffer a prolonged death once shot.

The poll conducted by Opinion AS on behalf of the Norwegian Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) puts the spotlight on Norwegian whaling as this week’s 59th annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting opens in Alaska.

“This timely poll shows that for the first time we have clear evidence that the majority of Norwegians find it totally unacceptable for whales to suffer long and painful deaths,” said Linda Rognli, Marine Mammals Adviser for the NSPCA.

She added: “We strongly urge the Norwegian delegation to ensure that they accurately represent the views of the Norwegian public and vote in favour of whale protection at this year’s IWC meeting.”

Data reported by Norway to the IWC shows that whales can take anything between several minutes and over an hour to die. Furthermore, little is known of what becomes of those potentially ‘struck and lost’ whales that are injured by harpoon fire but escape.

Claire Bass, Programme Manager for WSPA, who is attending the IWC along with the NSPCA, said “Time and again the evidence shows that there is no humane way to kill a whale at sea. Norway prides itself on being a nation with respect for animal welfare but whaling is a glaring anomaly. Whaling is cruel and quite simply not something that a modern, developed society should condone.”

A leaflet ‘At risk of a painful death’ has been distributed ahead of this year’s meeting, encouraging the Norwegian public to write to Prime Minister Stoltenberg asking how the government intends to put an end to this suffering. This year alone the Norwegian government has awarded hunters a quota to catch 1052 minke whales - a catch that could result in a further 200 whales suffering needless, long and painful deaths.