Whale cargo ship skips Durban

THE crew of the Alma, an Icelandic cargo ship, transporting 2,000 tons of endangered fin whale meat to Japan, made the decision not to berth in the Durban Harbour this weekend to resupply, following a Greenpeace petition that garnered more than 21,000 signatures in just three days.

Greenpeace sounded the alarm on Thursday, 10 April and the public outrage was quickly apparent, with one person signing the online petition every eight seconds in the first 24 hours. More than 21,000 people sided with Greenpeace in its quest to get port authorities to deny entrance and service to the Alma.

“Whale meat – just like rhino horn – is illegal in South Africa. The shipping company underestimated South African citizens’ commitment to abolish the trade of illegal and endangered species and wildlife. Now, the vessel has left South African waters without the possibility to refuel,” said Greenpeace Africa executive director, Michael O’Brien Onyeka.

They have called on the SA government to put pressure on other African ports to deny services to the Alma. “Every country and company involved in shipments should be aware that making money on the trade of endangered species is being met with international moral rejection.”