Total catches of marine mammals in 1987 to 2015

The Norwegian catch is taken primarily from the Northeastern stock area, but a small proportion may be taken from the Central stock area around Jan Mayen. Norway also took common minke whales in the West Greenland stock area until 1986. Harvests approached 2000 whales annually before 1986, the year in which the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling took effect. Although Norway held a reservation to this decision and was not legally bound by it, it nevertheless temporarily ceased commercial whaling from 1988 to 1992, a period in which only scientific research whaling was permitted. In 1993 Norway resumed commercial whaling. Recent harvests have been in the range of 500 to 700 annually. Whales are hunted from small (ca 50 ft) fishing vessels that are equipped for whaling in the spring and summer but fish the remainder of the year. The vessels are equipped with 50 mm or 60 mm harpoon cannons that use a gunpowder charge to fire the harpoon. The harpoons are of the “hot” type, tipped with explosive grenades loaded with 30 g of penthrite explosive. This grenade is triggered to detonate inside the whale and is designed to kill the animal as quickly as possible to minimise suffering. A line attached to the harpoon secures the whale and prevents loss, and a winch is used to haul the animal to the boat (NAMMCO 2011a).