Comments on: Sale of Icelandic whale meat in turmoil

By: Fisy

Fisy — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:16:23 +0000

>This news comes from a recorded telephone conversation between the Asian
>Trading manager and a Greenpeace representative on 7th May this year.

Illegal wire tapping. That is nice.

>A group from Greenpeace arrived in Iceland yesterday, Sunday, to hold
>meetings with the authorities and politicians.

They are lucky that they left country with out bruises. Steingrímur J. * does * not like them.

By: Quit Already

Quit Already — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:02:48 +0000

Lets stop the pointless hunting of sea mammals already,

By: Maritime Monday 166

Maritime Monday 166 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:32:22 +0000

[...] has “Sale of Icelandic whale meat in turmoil“. The Japanese don’t seem to want it [...]

By: david

david — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:24:39 +0000

You are right that not everyone would eat whale if it were available to them (irrespective of price). Nonetheless I personally suspect that the Japanese market will absorb the imports from Iceland without much problem. Time will tell.

By: vikingisson

vikingisson — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:38:38 +0000

you’re right and wrong. Any sale at that much money suggests a market for sure. But not everyone eats whale so the portion per consumer is much higher, normal perhaps for those that eat it.

I think we’re a long way from the catch-em till they’re gone mentality. Perhaps because of smart people like GP or just common sense. I’d rather watch-em than catch-em but I don’t want to prevent those that do as long as it is sustainable.
So many hot topic issues these days. I don’t like abortion but I have no desire to criminalize it. Not my call and certainly not by Mr and Mrs self righteous.

By: david

david — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:14:45 +0000

A minke whale that was by-caught in northern japan just the other day sold for 5.4MM yen. I don’t know any other product for which there is ‘no market’ that can fetch such a price.

If anything, there is a lack of meat in Japan. 5,000 tons for 126,000,000 people each year means less than enough per person for even a single meal – once every 365 days.

Greenpeace have a vested interest in the issue so take what they say with a grain of salt. Watch Mr. Loftsson instead – if there truely is no market then he will quickly stop supplying.

By: vikingisson

vikingisson — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:10:37 +0000

I think the truth about the lack of a Japanese market is about imported whale meat. They have their own whaling fleet and I doubt it is just for upsetting Greenpee. Easier to hide what is done only domestically. Over here we hear about ‘buy American’ which has already cost me my job. The same mantra can be heard all over the planet.
a non news item.

By: SIR EURO (FORMER GUS)

SIR EURO (FORMER GUS) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:03:26 +0000

LOCAL DEMAND ISN´T ENOUGH, BUT IT WILL SOON BE! THE KRONA LOST TODAY ANOTHER 2% AGAINST THE DOLLAR… IT IS TRAGIC, THE ICELANDIC “WORTHLESS” CURRENCY IS HEADING DOWN AGAIN… TODAY 1 EURO 177 ISK…

SO WITH PRICES IN ALL FOOD PRODUCTS GOING UP, THE KRONA GOING DOWN… I BET ICELANDERS WILL LIKE TO KEEP THE WHALE MEAT TO FEED THEMSELVES…

By: Bromley86

Bromley86 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:02:53 +0000

I’d be very surprised if the whale hunting wasn’t underwritten by the fishing industry.

Or how else have they managed to survive since 2006? Is local demand enough?

By: Alexander E.

Alexander E. — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:15:39 +0000

I talked with Mars Trading Co. yesterday and of course I recorded this conversation.
They also confirmed – no whale meat purchase this year was planned for their restaurant chain on Mars.

PS. Conversation was in Marsian so not sure if I should upload it but I swear it’s true (although I hate Mars).

On the other hand if there is no market – then greensh*t has nothing to worry about. Unless some rich guys wants to pay for whale safari – whale hunters won’t bother to go to sea.