Iceland says whaling no threat to tourism [+pictures]

REYKJAVIK - Iceland's fisheries minister said on Wednesday the government had expected criticism for its decision to resume commercial whaling after a 21-year ban but he dismissed suggestions the hunt would hurt tourism.

In an interview with Reuters that took place as a third fin whale was killed off the country's west coast, Einar Gudfinnsson added that Iceland was not targeting threatened species.

Reykjavik last week announced it would catch nine fin whales, deemed endangered by the World Conservation Union, and 30 minke whales. It has since caught three fin whales.

Sweden, Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the European Union have condemned the step.

Gudfinnsson said he was not surprised that countries widely known to be against whaling would take issue with Iceland's decision, but was dismissive of the threat to tourism.

"We were expecting a negative response. But we don't think that other industries, such as tourism, will suffer in the long term. We are not the only nation catching whales," he said, citing Norway, Japan and the United States, where some natives in Alaska can catch whales.

"Tourism in Norway has not decreased, but is increasing. And since we started scientific whaling in 2003, the tourism industry has been growing," Gudfinnsson said.

Iceland, which has caught minke whales since 2003 for research, and Norway are the only nations that sanction full-blown commercial whale hunts. Japan allows whaling but says it is for research purposes.

Gudfinnsson argued that while fin whales may be at risk elsewhere, their numbers are plentiful and rising in the North Atlantic.

"It is estimated that there are about 25,000 fin whales in Icelandic waters and over 40,000 minke whales. That is the reason why we have decided to hunt these species and not others," he said.

Gudfinnsson said Iceland had every right to sustainable use of its resources, equating the issue with cod fishing.

"Our cod stocks are healthy because of measures to prevent over-fishing. Because cod stocks are suffering in the North Sea doesn't mean that we can't catch cod in our waters," he said.

Greenpeace said the step threatens Icelandic tourism and that some 85,000 people have signed an online form, set up after the research hunts resumed, promising to "seriously consider" an Icelandic vacation if Reykjavik stops whaling.

The visits are worth a potential US$99.4 million versus US$4 million for Iceland's commercial whaling at peak, it said.

"The hunt makes no sense," said Martin Norman, a Greenpeace spokesman in Oslo. "There is no market for the meat."

Some whale-watching firms have reported cancellations in the wake of Reykjavik's step.

"We visited Iceland in 2006 the first time and we like your beautiful country very much. We wanted to visit Iceland in 2007 again, but we (won't) as long as you are KILLING WHALES !!" said an email received by one whale-watching firm.

- REUTERS