Illegal whale meat for sale at Iceland airport

Tourists are being sold illegal whale meat at Iceland"s Keflavik airport due to staff giving false information.

Holidaymakers risk prosecution if they return home with the meat as there is an international ban on the trade of whale products.

The minke whale meat steaks were bought from a store in the airport"s departure lounge by representatives of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).

In the two separate incidents, staff told the shoppers that they could legally import the product.

WDCS has recently been running an awareness campaign directed at tourists after revealing that a staggering 35 to 40% of the meat from minke whales slaughtered by Icelandic whalers is eaten by tourists visiting the country.

It claims most tourists have no idea that their actions are propping up commercial whaling in Iceland.

By Diane Evans

Friday, October 28, 2011

• PRINT
• SEND TO A FRIEND