Norwegian Whaler Scuttled

On November 11, the Morild, the 35 foot whaling vessel owned by a Norwegian parliamentarian and whaler, was sunk in Norway. Activists explained that the ship's sea valve was dismantled and opened and the vessel sunk in several metres of water. Mechanical and electrical damage was extensive. The Morild is the second whaling ship in 12 days to be scuttled in Norway. Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Society said that the sinkings are a retaliation for Norwegian contempt for the International Whaling Commission's continued global moratorium on commercial whaling. Norwegian delegates walked out of an IWC meeting in Monaco in October to avoid discussion of their country's illegal whaling activities.

"This arrogance in ignoring the moratorium is being rewarded by a campaign of attacks on Norwegian whalers meant to keep insurance premiums high and to increase security costs for the purpose of impacting the outlaw whaling industry economically," Watson said.

Earlier this year, the Norwegian government stated that protest against Norwegian whaling is dead and that the international public was accepting their whaling activities.