Stop The EU Accepting Whale Meat Through Its Ports
- The British government says it does not support commercial whale hunting.
- The EU does not allow its Member States to trade in whale products.
So why do the UK and the rest of the EU allow ships carrying whale meat and products to dock at their ports?
Icelandic and Norwegian whalers have transferred whale products through Southampton, Rotterdam and Hamburg among others.
By allowing ships containing whale products to pass through its ports - the EU is helping the trade in whale products and supporting commercial whaling. And by accepting port fees from shippers, EU countries are profiting from whaling!
Shipping whale meat across the globe without stopping at EU ports is very expensive. Transporting it by air is even more costly. If we can close off EU ports to whale cargo we will be another step closer to stopping whaling forever.
Join WDC in calling for a ban on the transfer of whale products through all UK and EU ports.
Dear Minister
I am shocked to learn that in recent months, Icelandic and Norwegian whalers have transferred whale meat and other whale products through EU ports including Southampton, Rotterdam and Hamburg, on route to Japan and other parts of Asia. These whaling countries are not EU members and they refuse to be bound by regulations governing international trade in endangered whale species such as fin whales.
Since the EU bans international trade in whale products under Council Regulation No. 338/97, no exception should be made for non-EU countries to abuse its ports by transiting prohibited products. Indeed, by allowing such shipments to transfer through its ports, the EU is facilitating trade in an endangered species which is protected by multiple EU laws and whose hunting is contrary to the current international ban on commercial whaling. Further, EU countries should not indirectly profit from whaling by accepting fees from shipping companies carrying whale products.
[Your comments here.]
Therefore, I respectfully urge you to take prompt and effective action and request the EU Commission to submit an appropriate legislative proposal for banning the movement of whale meat and products through UK and European ports.
Yours sincerely
[Your name here]
