End Norway’s Whaling Industry, Because No One Wants To Buy Whale Meat

Norway is one of three countries that continues to hunt whales in objection to a decades-old moratorium on commercial whaling. As it turns out, however, the deadly industry there might be on the way out -- not due to a sudden change of heart, but because they're having a hard time finding anyone to buy whale meat.

In a television special on the topic aired on Norwegian station NRK, one of the nation's leading proponents of whaling said that unless more consumers can be found abroad to import whale meat, the industry may be a thing of the past within a decade.

"At worst, if it does not become easier to sell whale meat, I fear that this tradition and industry will die out," he told the television channel. "In about ten to 15 years, there may be no whalers left in Norway, and that would be a tragedy."

Over the last few years, domestic demand for whale meat has plummeted, despite attempts to create new products combining whale with other meat, like pork. Even Ulf Ellingsen, operator of one of the largest seafood producers in the country, says that whaling is in danger of disappearing.

"If you look at this from a historical perspective, the supply of whale meat is barely a hobby today," he says. "Production of whale meat is less profitable for us to focus on, and keep the factory in operation."

Fortunately, the decline in demand has brought reprieve for whales. According to TheLocal.no, less than half of the 1,300 whale quota was reached last year -- and that number is likely to drop even further.

"If the market had been there, we could easily take the quota," says Ellingsen. "But as long as the meat is unable to be sold and not even the domestic market take the quota we have, we have a problem."

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