Target: Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir, Iceland Minister of Food, Fisheries, and Agriculture
Goal: Do not increase kill limits for vulnerable fin whales.
Harpooned whales can take two hours to die, putting these intelligent animals in excruciating agony. This disturbing finding – as well as reports of widespread animal cruelty in the fin whaling industry – compelled Iceland to place serious restrictions on whaling practices. But after a more recent report indicated that the cruelty had not abated, leaders have made the puzzling decision to ramp up whaling.
Previous regulations meant that a couple of dozen fin whales were harpooned in a year’s time. Following a new announcement from the Ministry of Food, Fisheries, and Agriculture, the last remaining whaling company within Iceland will be able to kill over 100 more whales. These actions place at further risk a species already deemed vulnerable to extinction.
Sign the petition below to urge leaders to rethink a decision that will set back animal conservation while enabling animal cruelty.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Olsen Gunnarsdóttir,
Following a government-commissioned report about the whaling industry, Iceland implemented strong new regulations and restrictions. These reforms were intended to help end animal cruelty within the industry. Yet when the desired results were not yielded, this ministry did not devise a better solution-driven plan of action. Instead, it returned to the status quo and granted the whaling industry an expanded license to kill.
This action places a frequent inhabitant of the international Red List of endangered species – the fin whale – at elevated risk. These majestic marine mammals already face enough existential challenges from climate change. Please do not further decimate their road to recovery. Restore and strengthen protections for these vulnerable living beings.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Aqqa Rosing Asvid
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