Whaling Around the World: The Norwegian Pirate Whaling Fleet In April of 2005, the Norwegians sent out 30 harpoon boats out to slaughter 797 minke whales. Norway kills almost 800 minke whales each year Norway's activities are in direct violation of the moratorium established by the International Whaling Association (IWC) in 1986 that prohibits commercial whaling activities. This year, another violation was committed. Norway is allowing the hunts to take place without a government inspector aboard to monitor that the kills with explosive-tipped harpoons are humane. The whale meat is consumed by Norwegians but the blubber is considered worthless. The Norwegian whaling association has destroyed hundreds of tons of stockpiled blubber. This year the whalers have been ordered to dump the fatty blubber back into the ocean. Norway has engaged in illegal killing of whales since 1986. That is the year that the IWC invoked a global moratorium on commercial whaling. Whereas Japan sneaks around pretending to kill whales for "scientific research," the Norwegians have blatantly defied the moratorium with commercial hunting. Like Japan, they have raised their own quotas year after year. Unfortunately, the member nations of the IWC have refused to sanction Norway . The United States has refused to uphold the Packwood-Magnuson Act and the Pelly Amendment against Norway. As a result, Norway is now engaged in an illegal mass slaughter of these intelligent and social animals.

Sea Shepherd – Actions Defending the Whales of Norway In 1992, our crew sank the pirate whaler Nybraena at dockside in the Lofoten Islands. In 1994, our crew scuttled the pirate whaler Senet in Southern Norway. In 1994, the Sea Shepherd ship Whales Forever disrupted the summer whale hunt and engaged in a confrontation with the Norwegian Navy. Despite being rammed, depth-charged and fired upon by the Naval vessel Andenes, the Whales Forever successfully avoided capture.