Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09REYKJAVIK37
2009-02-20 15:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Reykjavik
Cable title:
ICELANDIC MINISTER CONFIRMS COMMERCIAL WHALING DECISION
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UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000037
C O R R E C T E D COPY (SUBJECT)
STATE FOR OES LISA PHELPS AND MAGGIE HAYES AND EUR/NB
USDOC FOR NMFS CHERI MCCARTY
TOKYO FOR BART COBBS
COPENHAGEN FOR ESTH HUB
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC MINISTER CONFIRMS COMMERCIAL WHALING DECISION
STANDS
REFS: A) Reykjavik 36 B) Reykjavik 25
UNCLAS REYKJAVIK 000037
C O R R E C T E D COPY (SUBJECT)
STATE FOR OES LISA PHELPS AND MAGGIE HAYES AND EUR/NB
USDOC FOR NMFS CHERI MCCARTY
TOKYO FOR BART COBBS
COPENHAGEN FOR ESTH HUB
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC MINISTER CONFIRMS COMMERCIAL WHALING DECISION
STANDS
REFS: A) Reykjavik 36 B) Reykjavik 25
1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 4.
2. (SBU) Minister of Fisheries Steingrimur J. SigfuQon announced on
February 18 that his predecessor's controversial increase in whaling
quotas for fin and minke whales will stand at least for this year
(reftels). Ministry of Fisheries Head of the International Office
and Iceland's Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) Stefan Asmundsson confirmed for Econoff that no actual quotas
have been issued yet; quotas are devised by the annual scientific
recommendations of the Icelandic Marine Research Institute (MRI) on
sustainability and that information is not expected until late
spring. However, Asmundsson said that one could make an educated
guess on the numbers of the quota based on advice from previous
years. (Note: Using the older MRI information, this would mean a
quota of 150 fin whales and 100 minke whales. End Note.) Asmundsson
said the whalers do not have authority to start whaling until the
quota is issued, but are probably making their preparations using
the same educated guesses.
3. (SBU) The Director of Iceland's Nature Conservation Association
(an anti-whaling NGO),Arni Finsson told Econoff that he appreciated
the strong language in the letter presented by the Ambassador and
other representatives of the international community, but stressed
that more was needed (Ref A). He cited the 26 signatories to the
letter denouncing Iceland's 2006 decision to continue whaling and
related fin and minke whale quotas. Finsson said that the potential
quota of 150 fins and 100 minkes this year was worse than the 2006
quota of nine fins and 30 minkes, and the response should reflect
that increase. He mentioned that the British supermarket chain
Waitrose had sent a letter to the Icelandic authorities this week
highlighting that their customers are not pro-whaling. Finsson said
more responses like that would help pressure the Icelandic
authorities. He said more European Union members and IWC members
from South America should be approached about signing any joint
international response.
4. (SBU) Action Request and Comment: Post believes a further
response is necessary following the reaffirmation of the
objectionable quota. We request U.S. authorities issue a public
statement deploring the decision as soon as possible. We also
recommend that we either seek additional signatures to the letter
delivered last week in Reykjavik, or production of another one with
at least the same number of countries signed up as did in 2006.
VAN VOORST
C O R R E C T E D COPY (SUBJECT)
STATE FOR OES LISA PHELPS AND MAGGIE HAYES AND EUR/NB
USDOC FOR NMFS CHERI MCCARTY
TOKYO FOR BART COBBS
COPENHAGEN FOR ESTH HUB
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA PREL IWC ETRD IC
SUBJECT: ICELANDIC MINISTER CONFIRMS COMMERCIAL WHALING DECISION
STANDS
REFS: A) Reykjavik 36 B) Reykjavik 25
1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 4.
2. (SBU) Minister of Fisheries Steingrimur J. SigfuQon announced on
February 18 that his predecessor's controversial increase in whaling
quotas for fin and minke whales will stand at least for this year
(reftels). Ministry of Fisheries Head of the International Office
and Iceland's Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission
(IWC) Stefan Asmundsson confirmed for Econoff that no actual quotas
have been issued yet; quotas are devised by the annual scientific
recommendations of the Icelandic Marine Research Institute (MRI) on
sustainability and that information is not expected until late
spring. However, Asmundsson said that one could make an educated
guess on the numbers of the quota based on advice from previous
years. (Note: Using the older MRI information, this would mean a
quota of 150 fin whales and 100 minke whales. End Note.) Asmundsson
said the whalers do not have authority to start whaling until the
quota is issued, but are probably making their preparations using
the same educated guesses.
3. (SBU) The Director of Iceland's Nature Conservation Association
(an anti-whaling NGO),Arni Finsson told Econoff that he appreciated
the strong language in the letter presented by the Ambassador and
other representatives of the international community, but stressed
that more was needed (Ref A). He cited the 26 signatories to the
letter denouncing Iceland's 2006 decision to continue whaling and
related fin and minke whale quotas. Finsson said that the potential
quota of 150 fins and 100 minkes this year was worse than the 2006
quota of nine fins and 30 minkes, and the response should reflect
that increase. He mentioned that the British supermarket chain
Waitrose had sent a letter to the Icelandic authorities this week
highlighting that their customers are not pro-whaling. Finsson said
more responses like that would help pressure the Icelandic
authorities. He said more European Union members and IWC members
from South America should be approached about signing any joint
international response.
4. (SBU) Action Request and Comment: Post believes a further
response is necessary following the reaffirmation of the
objectionable quota. We request U.S. authorities issue a public
statement deploring the decision as soon as possible. We also
recommend that we either seek additional signatures to the letter
delivered last week in Reykjavik, or production of another one with
at least the same number of countries signed up as did in 2006.
VAN VOORST