Euro­par­lament: Norveška mora prestati s kitolovom


21 rujna 2017

Europski se parlament prošlog tjedna većinski složio i stao iza prijedloga Stranke za životinje da se prozove Norveška po pitanju komercijalnog kitolova. Europarlament također želi da se norveško meso prestaje prevoziti putem europskih luka do Japana.

“Ova izjava Europskog parlamenta povećava internacionalni pritisak na Norvešku. Kitolov je okrutan i predstavlja prijetnju opstanka ovih nevjerojatnih životinja,” izjavila je europarlamentarka Anja Hazekamp (Stranka za životinje).

Kitolovstvo je zabranjeno na globalnoj razini od 1986., no Norveška, Island i Japan odbijaju držati se ove zabrane. Otkad je zabrana na snazi od 1986., Norveška je ubila više od 13 tisuća kitova. Ove godine planira ubiti 999 kitova.


Europarlamentarka Anja Hazekamp sa svojim kolegama pokazuje da je protiv kitolova

Europski parlament poziva Norvešku da se pridrži internacionalne zabrane i da prekine s kitolovom. No, ne može uručiti obvezujuću zabranu s obzirom da Norveška nije članica EU.

No, Bruxelles se može pobrinuti da se norveško meso ne prevozi preko europskih luka do Japana. Iako je kupovina i prodaja proizvoda od kitova zabranjena u EU, meso se i dalje može prevoziti kroz europske luke. Tako je u listopadu 2016. jedno tri tisuće kilograma norveškog mesa od kitova prevezeno u Japan preko Njemačke, Francuske i Malte. Organizacije za zaštitu prirode upozorile su da se norveški izvoz kitovskog mesa povećava.

Stranka za životinje sada želi potpunu zabranu prijevoza kitovskih proizvoda preko EU luka i dobila je podršku Europskog parlamenta. “Lov na kitove zabranjen je gotovo trideset godina. Onda je kontradiktorno da zemlje koje gaze internacionalnu zabranu dobivaju pomoć pri prijevozu. Zabrana prijevoza svakako otežava trgovinu proizvodima od kitova, te samim time odgovara od daljnjeg nastavka lova”, izjavila je Anja Hazekamp, europarlamentarka iz Stranke za životinje.

Sad kada je Europski parlament podržao prijedlog Stranke za životinje, na redu su Europska komisija i 28 zemalja članica da donesu odluku o zabrani prijevoza kitovskih proizvoda.

Last week, a majority of the European Parliament has supported the Party for the Animals’ motion urging Norway to cease its commercial whaling operations. The EU also wants to ensure that whale meat is no longer transported to Japan through EU ports.

“The EU´s verdict puts additional pressure on Norway. Whaling is cruel and constitutes a danger to the existence of these magnificent creatures,” says MEP Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals).

Norway, Japan and Iceland refuse to uphold the global whaling ban that came into effect in 1986. Since the ban came into effect, Norway has killed over 13,000 whales, and plans on killing 999 more this year.


Party for the Animals MEP Anja Hazekamp and her colleagues take a stand against whaling

MEPs urge Norway to abide by the International Whaling Commission moratorium and to finally cease its whaling operations. The European Parliament cannot impose a legally binding ban, as Norway is not a member of the EU.

However, Brussels can make sure that Norwegian whale meat is no longer transported to Japan through European ports. Although the buying and selling of whale products is illegal in the EU, transporting whale meat through EU ports is still allowed. A loophole, and one that is eagerly exploited. For instance in October 2016, when just under 3,000 kilos of Norwegian whale meat was shipped to Japan through ports in Germany, France and Malta. Environmental organisations warn that the export of Norwegian whale meat is steadily rising.

The Party for the Animals, supported by the European Parliament, wants a total ban on the shipment of whale products through EU ports. “Whaling has been prohibited for over thirty years. Offering our help with the transport of whale products to countries that disregard international protection measures, is contradictory. A ban on transit will make the trade in whale products more difficult and thereby discourage whaling itself,” according to Party for the Animals MEP Anja Hazekamp.

Now that the European Parliament has supported the Party for the Animals’ proposal, it is up to the European Commission and the 28 EU member states to decide whether there will be an actual ban on transit of whale products.