Iceland resumes whaling, ministry says

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) – Iceland”s government said on Monday it would allow 40 minke whales to be hunted, ending a temporary halt to a practice which has angered conservationists.

A ministry official told Reuters that Einar Guoffinsson, minister of fisheries, had issued the order. The head of a local whaling association confirmed that fishermen on three whaling boats were preparing to go to sea from Tuesday.

But Foreign Minister Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir distanced herself and other members of Iceland”s coalition government who belong to the centre-left Social Democrats from the decision.