David @ Tokyo

Perspective from Japan on whaling and whale meat, a spot of gourmet news, and monthly updates of whale meat stockpile statistics

10/26/2009

Iceland economy and whaling

Iceland's is an interesting situation, with the majority of Iceland's populace supporting whaling, whereas their new government seems to be of the "anti-trade" persuasion (at least with respect to whale products), yet not exactly "anti-whaling" per se.

Nonetheless, as this Bloomberg article indicates (without getting into any of the typical western culture cringe) whaling is providing some jobs for people there in need of work.

At the same time, many other reports indicate that currency exchange rates are making Iceland an attractive destination for tourists. This is in very stark contrast to perpetual economic threats that have be leveled in Iceland's direction because of it's exercising its sovereign right to harvest marine resources (here's SSCS' blather, but also see this).

Iceland's government shutting down or scaling back sustainable whaling activities at this point wouldn't make sense for many reasons as far as I am concerned, but let's see what happens next year.

Labels: Iceland

posted by David # 9:44 pm

Comments:

The final paragraphe of the SSCS "blather" is just priceless!
These yuppies just take themselves so seriously it's hilarious.
Funny thing is; if they don't refuel in Iceland (which with landing fees and higher fuel prices is avoided by the private jet companies anyways) chances are they'll refuel right here in whale munching territory.

# posted by

RadicalOmnivore : 2:24 am

My community has long been known as the "gas station to the stars".
:)

# posted by

RadicalOmnivore : 2:27 am

...and for the record Who says whale eaters aren't social progressives?

http://bit.ly/6HQVr

# posted by

RadicalOmnivore : 7:22 am

IceClass, indeed that private jet refuelling line was surprisingly self-incriminating. Maybe it was a not-so-subtle message to Pierce Brosnan or one of the other Hollywood muppets? PW himself seems to spend a lot of time flying around the globe guzzling aviation fuel for someone trying to save the world from humans.

# posted by

David : 11:03 pm

It would now appear that the UK has wisely chosen not to obstruct Iceland's bid to enter the EU based on their taste for a little organic, free range Minke.

# posted by

RadicalOmnivore : 2:28 pm

Archives

June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 February 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 February 2011 March 2011 May 2013 June 2013