In reaction to the decision of Iceland´s Minister of Fisheries to resume commercial whaling, the Húsavík Whale Museum and the Whale Watching Company North Sailing state the following:

"The Húsavík Whale Museum and North Sailing regret and criticize the decision of Iceland's Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture to permit large scale whaling during the next five years, killing a total of 1.000 minke whales and 750 fin whales.

Yesterday, the outgoing Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Einar K. Guðfinnsson, suddenly announced his decision to resume commercial whaling from 2009 - 2013. He determined the quota to be 150 fin whales and 100 minke whales each year, which he bases on the recommendations for sustainable whaling by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute.