Research a ruse?
Iceland plans to submit a request to the International Whaling Commission (iwc), seeking permission to resume scientific whaling. This step could lead to a revival of whale hunting. Iceland had stopped the controversial activity in 1989 under international pressure. But ever since the country rejoined the iwc last October, it has been planning to recommence the same.
While commercial whaling would not start before 2006, the country could begin hunting for scientific purposes before that. The iwc requires detailed research plans to be submitted before it permits whale hunting whales for research purposes. The agency said Iceland's proposal would be discussed at its annual meeting in June.