Denmark requested a humpback whale hunting quota of 10 annually on behalf of Greenland from the IWC

An intersession meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has yet again postponed decision on the controversial request from Greenland to hunt humpback whales.

Denmark, on behalf of Greenland, requested a hunting quota of 10 humpbacks per year for the next three years at the annual IWC meeting in Portugal last June.

The controversial decision was postponed until the intersession meeting yesterday in Florida. But there were not enough commission members present yesterday to make the quorum. As such, no vote could be held but the IWC said a full discussion on the matter had taken place.

Humpback whales were heavily hunted during the 20th century until a commercial whaling ban was introduced in the 1960s. The ban was extended to aboriginal subsistence hunting in 1987, ending Greenland’s capture of the whales.

In 2008, Greenland was granted a hunting quota for 200 minke whales and 19 fin whales and the IWC recognises the country needs 670 tonnes of whale meat as part of the aboriginal subsistence program.

However, while Greenland is arguing for an increase in its quota to meet the cultural and nutritional requirements of its population, anti-whaling activists have argued an increase is unnecessary.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) has been monitoring Greenland’s requests closely over the years. The country has applied for annual humpback quotas since 2007, but has been rejected each time.

Nicolas Entrup of the WDCS is concerned that an eventual decision in favour of the whales will not be reached when the issue is raised again at the annual meeting in Morocco this June.

‘While we are pleased that the humpbacks have been given a few weeks of breathing space, we maintain that countries should not be afraid to reject this flawed proposal on its merits. Instead, the IWC is clearly paralysed by the fear that controversy over Greenland’s proposal will upset the possibility of securing a “deal” on commercial whaling,’ Entrup said.

As long as the Faroe Islands and Greenland remain part of the Kingdom of Denmark, they are represented by the Danish Commissioner at the IWC. However, Denmark is often faced with a difficult position as it comes under pressure from the EU’s strong anti-whaling stance.