Pippa Middleton eating whalemeat: IFAW comment

Philip Mansbridge, UK Director of IFAW, said: "IFAW is opposed to commercial whaling because it is unnecessary and cruel. We know from our work in Iceland that tourists to that beautiful island are major consumers of whale meat and thus a driver for commercial whaling.

“It's likely that Pippa Middleton wasn't aware of the horrific suffering caused by commercial whaling nor the devastating damage that it causes to whale populations.  By eating whale meat, she is unwittingly setting a bad example that may encourage other tourists to do likewise. We would hope she acknowledges her mistake and will promote whale watching true to the slogan: meet us, don't eat us."

Under CITES, it would be illegal to import whalemeat into the UK.

For more information about IFAW please visit www.ifaw.org, or for more information about all of our whale campaign work please visit http://www.ifaw.org/united-kingdom/our-work/defending-whales