Tourist Chains Himself to Icelandic Whaling Ship

by Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir / Iceland Review

Update: After 15 Hours Activist Ends Lockdown Due to Threats

A 32-year-old unnamed activist from Berlin from the organization Hard to Port chained himself to the mast of Icelandic whaling ship Hvalur 8 this morning and has declared that he will remain there for at least 48 hours in protest of whaling.

“Workers seem irritated. Collective brainstorming how to deal with me up here. First whale watching tourists stop by to take pictures and show support,” the activist posted on Facebook this morning.

Hard to Port released a statement to the media, explaining their intention to: “…raise awareness among potential tourists of Iceland worldwide of the cruel and unethical practice [of whaling].”

Hvalur 8 is docked at the shipyard in Reykjavík in preparation for the upcoming whaling season, which begins this month. The quota for fin whales is 154 animals and their hunting will result in significant work on sea and land, Morgunblaðið reports.