January 9, 2024

Recently I’ve had people being critical of our plan to return to Iceland. 

Many of them being the usual suspects i.e. people I formally trusted who changed the course of Sea Shepherd Global to the mediocre mainstream of non-action saber rattling.

First, they are saying that my tactics will alienate Icelanders and secondly,  it’s; “Hey Iceland said they will not issue permits and whaling will be ended, so why are you fund-raising to go to Iceland if no whales will be killed?”

My answer to the first is criticism of our tactics are designed to save whales. We sank half of Iceland’s whaling fleet in 1986 and we shut them down for years. Our objective is to prevent the killing of whales. Plus, I highly doubt such actions will alienate Icelanders who are fed up with whaling.

In 2023, on the very day we arrived in Icelandic waters, a temporary ban on whaling was implemented. Kristján Loftsson began killing whales again in September. We could not return because Denmark pressured Jamaica to strike our flag for interfering with the slaughter of pilot whales in the Faroes.

We have now reflagged – we are fully prepared to return, and we will return in June 2024.

As for Iceland ending whaling, we only need to look at this quote from Kristján Loftsson from the October 13th, 2023 edition of The Guardian. “I’m not worried. I know the people here and the politics better than many. I think it will be no problem. I am confident that we will be whaling next year.”

Loftsson is accustomed to getting what he wants and we need to prevent him if all other options fail. If he does not get his way, this wealthiest man in Iceland has the power to bring down the government unless they comply with his desires.

But in the unlikely event that the Icelandic government does stop him, the outcome will be what we all want and no confrontation will take place.

This will mean a short voyage over to the Faroe Islands and/or Norway to intervene against the killing of cetaceans there.

Either way, we will be prepared for the worst in Iceland and fully prepared for the Faroes and Norway, should Iceland’s endangered Fin whales are protected.

What I can promise is a summer of action in defense of Fin whales, Minke whales, Pilot whales and Dolphins. 

I think it’s time for another dramatic, aggressive and effective intervention.

Do you agree?