A general ban on the killing of whales has been in place by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since 1986. There are a few exceptions, such as the killing of whales by aboriginal peoples practicing traditional subsistence. Now, it appears as if Denmark territory Greenland is taking advantage of their aboriginal exception and serving up whale meat to tourists.
A recent investigation shows that many tourist businesses, such as restaurants and hotels, are offering whale meat as part of the menu. These meals range from whale burgers to buffets on cruise ships to any other number of dishes that have been adapted to include whale meat as one of the ingredients. The problems are worse than that, however, as even supermarkets have been found openly selling whale meat to their customers. These are not just the few isolated incidents that one might expect from shady business owners trying to make a profit, either. A great deal of available whale meat was discovered through the investigation.
