Signing of Code of Conduct for Responsible Whale Watching

Photo: Among the guests were Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir Minister of Industry and Trade, Robert C. Barber U.S. Ambassador to Iceland and Stuart Gill British Ambassador to Iceland. Chairmen were Ásbjörn Björgvinsson founder of the Húsavík Whale Museum and María Gunnarsdóttir from IceWhale.

IceWhale – The Icelandic Association of Whale Watchers conducted a seminar and workshop February 19 and 20. The seminar is part of a series of seminars held by IceWhale, run in cooperation with the American Embassy in Iceland. The seminars are held in the wake of education visits last spring sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

At the end of the seminar a ceremony was held where members of IceWhale signed a formal code of conduct, concerning guidelines for responsible whale watching. 

The seminar was interesting and successful. Most speakers addressed topics concerning the quality of whale watching in Iceland both with regard to the guests, the boat traffic and the animals themselves. Guest-speaker was Carole Carlson, adjunct scientist with the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies and Education for the Dolphin Fleet, and member of the Whalewatch Sub-Committee of the International Whaling Commission. She shared her experience of working within the whale watching business and encouraged the IceWhale members to continue their professional work.

The signed document is in the care of the Húsavík Whale Museum.