Iceland whaling season under way despite protest

Iceland fisheries ministry issues whalers with a quota of 154 fin whales in defiance of 1986 ban and more than 700,000 signatures against the hunt

Icelandic whaling boats have left port to begin the 2015 whaling season, authorities said on Monday as more than 700,000 people signed a petition calling for an end to the hunt.

Two whaling boats, Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9, left on Sunday, Gunnlaugur Gunnlaugsson, the manager of the Hvalfjordur whaling station, told AFP.