"This does not mean that we will reduce the quota next year," Johansen said, adding that weather conditions around Jan Mayen — a barren island in the Norwegian Sea — were to blame for the lackluster results.
Only five whales were harpooned in this zone out of a permitted 145 culls.
"The weather has not been good, and since oil prices have increased significantly the whalers haven't wanted to travel so far for such an unpredictable result," Johansen said.
This year's quota was the largest allowed since Norway re-launched its commercial whale hunting program in 1993 in defiance of an International Whaling Commission moratorium on the practice, in place since 1986. The resumption touched off a wave of international protests.
The Norwegian government has claimed that hunting the minke whale poses no threat to the species, which is estimated to number about 100,000 in the North Atlantic.
Japan, which along with Iceland uses a loophole in the moratorium to hunt whales for so-called "scientific research," said last week that it plans to expand its whaling in the Antarctic Ocean to humpback and fin whales, as well as nearly double its catch of minke whales.
For the first time ever, no inspectors were present on the Norwegian whaling ships during the 2005 whaling season. The boats were instead equipped with "blue boxes" that counted the number of culls.
Name: Minke Whale (
Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Primary Classification: Mysticeti (Baleen Whales)
Location: Worldwide distribution
Habitat: Open ocean, coastal waters, and near ice sheets. Prefers cooler regions.
Diet: Mostly krill. Also small fish and squid.
Size: Up to 35 ft in length and 14 tons in weight.
Description: Dark gray to black on top; white underneath; white band on flippers; narrow, pointed snout; ridge from snout to blowhole; baleen plates.
Cool Facts: It is the smallest of the baleen, or filter-feeding, whales. It is able to surf ocean breakers and leap completely out of the water.
Conservation Status: Lower Risk (Near Threatened)
Major Threat: Whaling
What Can I Do?: Visit
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and
The Ocean Conservancy for information on how you can help.
