On the 27th of May, the Icelandic Marine Research Institute (Hafro) published the new numbers of the minke whale population in Icelandic waters, which is now estimated to be between 10.000 - 15.000 animals. This is only 24% of the number published in 2001, which was estimated to be 43.600 animals. (Source: mbl)

The Marine Research Institute justified this sudden decline with the distribution change of their food source, which is assumed to be the result of the increasing water temperature. Then again, the estimate of 2001 has always seemed to be a bit astronomical...
Icelandic whaling is and has been justified with the necessity to decimate the minke whale population because of their fish consumption. Considering the new numbers, the lack of a whale meet market and the endangerment of tourism and the country's image, one keeps wondering about the motivation to continue whaling.