Endangered whale shipped through Canada, prompting call for tougher trade laws

HALIFAX – An international environmental organization is calling on Canada to adopt stricter trade laws after meat of the endangered fin whale was recently shipped through the country.

Sarah King of Greenpeace says Ottawa should implement stronger measures after fin whale meat arrived in Halifax from Iceland about three weeks ago and was transported by rail across the country en route to Japan.

Canada is a signatory of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which includes the fin whale in a list of the most endangered species.

The fin whale is also listed as a special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act.

Environment Canada says it inspected the shipment and had to allow it to proceed since Iceland and Japan did not agree to the listing of the fin whale under the convention.

It also says the convention provides an exemption for shipments of endangered species in-transit through a country so long as the shipment remains in customs control in a bond or under seal.