Minister of Fisheries Steingrímur J. Sigfússon attended a public meeting on commercial whaling in Akranes, west Iceland, yesterday where he was asked not to revoke the decision of his predecessor on a new whaling quota. Around 250 people attended the meeting.
Minister of Fisheries Steingrímur J. Sigfússon. Photo by Páll Kjartansson.
“I will talk with everyone and listen to all points of view. It is irresponsible to make a decision until that has been done,” Sigfússon said during yesterday’s meeting. Fréttabladid reports.
Sigfússon said he was probably the only one present who didn’t support immediate whaling. “In that sense I’m the devil’s advocate here in this building.”
Most MPs of the constituency of northwest Iceland were in attendance, all of whom urged the minister not to revoke the decision of his predecessor, Einar K. Gudfinnsson.
Kristinn H. Gunnarsson of the Liberal Party even said that if Sigfússon would revoke Gudfinnsson’s decision, the Althingi parliament would submit a vote of no confidence on him as minister.
“Don’t be a coward, Steingrímur, let Einar’s decision stand!” exclaimed Mayor of Akranes Gísli S. Einarsson.
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