The Parliamentary Ombudsman has submitted his opinion regarding the complaint of Hval hf. on the suspension of whaling. He believes that the regulation on the suspension of whaling does not have a clear enough basis in law and has not met the requirements of proportionality. The ombudsman points out that the whaling laws have not been reviewed in light of the animal welfare plans presented by the International Whaling Council.
The opinion is accompanied by a timeline of events from MAST's inspection report in 2022 until the recent opinion in January 2024. The Ombudsman requested information from the Ministry of Food regarding a regulation on the temporary suspension of the start of whaling. He offers a review of the whaling regulations and directs the ministry to keep the views in his opinion in mind for the future. The opinion does not include a specific conflict or follow-up effort, but the ombudsman agrees with the ministry's explanations regarding the animal welfare aspect of whaling, however points out that proportionality and the protection of the whale population should be the basis of laws in this area.
Read more here:
https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2024/01/05/Umbodsmadur-Althingis-skilar-aliti-vegna-frestunar-hvalveida/
Photo from Hafró
