Caught three fin whales on the first tour
From the Whaling station of Hvalur hf. in Hvalfjörður. From photo archives. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
Whaling vessels Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9 will be in harbor today with three fin whales after the first tour of the season. The fishing was successful despite blind fog and bad weather. Hvalur 8 caught one fin whale and Hvalur 9 had two fin whales.
Guðmundur F. Gunnlaugsson, station manager at the whaling station in Hvalfjörður, says the hunt has been going quite well despite the circumstances.
Won't return to fishing immediately
“It’s worse when there’s a lack of visibility,” says Gunnlaugsson, who was on his way to the whaling station to prepare for the ships’ arrival when he was caught by Morgunblaðið last night.
The ships are unlikely to return immediately back to fishing after they have brought in their fin whales. This is due to unfavourable weather conditions in the days ahead.
“There is bad weather ahead so it’s unlikely they’ll go right back out,” he said.
Weather and protests delayed the first tour
The boats went fishing on Wednesday. Whaling was re-authorized on September 1, but Minister of Food Svandís Svavarsdóttir suspended fin whale fishing in June.
The whaling was re-authorized under restrictions, but the season was delayed for several days, primarily because of weather conditions and then because of protests. After two protesters had been trapped in the ships’ masts for a day and a half, the fishing was delayed for nearly three days.
