Investigation of Small Whale Hunting in Northern Norway, 1964

• Published in: Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
• Main Author: Foote, Don Charles
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1975
• Subjects: General Medicine; Norway; Balaenoptera acutorostrata; hyperoodon ampullatus; Northern Norway
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f75-137; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f75-137

The author made a field trip to northern Norway in June to September of 1964 to study the techniques and economics of small whale catching. The industry taking small whales exists as a subsidiary to primary producing industries based on fishing or large-scale whale oil production. It takes mainly the minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and northern bottlenose (Hyperoodon ampullatus) whales and other smaller species. The small whale catcher vessel and its equipment is described in detail with specifications given, and an estimate is made of the costs of purchasing and maintaining boat and gear. Good catch and economic statistics are available on the hunt, but not on the packer, wholesaler, and retailer; nor on the separation of those boats used as whalers from March to September from others in the fishing fleet. Whale hunting and food product preparation is described. An economic assessment of costs is made, from hunting through packing, wholesaling and transport, and final retaining of the food products. The purchase, packing, and wholesale of whale meat products operates through a system based on fish production.