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Svend Foyn (1809-94) of Tønsberg started the modern
commercial whaling with his invention of the explosive harpoon in
the 1860s, patented 1873-1883. The combination of fast steam-powered catcher boats
replacing the old rowing boats and this new gun that launched
harpoons containing an explosive charge, allowed whalers to take
the faster swimming rorqual whales (e.g. the blue whale,
Balaenoptera musculus, and the fin whale, B. physalus).
Foyn was later honored by having places named after him, the
Foyn Coast at the eastern part of the Antarctic Peninsula being
the most known. At Svalbard, there is a small island (only 2
square km!) called Foyn island.
Related links:
Article: Norwegian minke whaling, Coastal livelihood and natural resource management
Article: Notes about whaling
International Whaling Commission
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, learn about the current U.S. policy on whaling. This site also includes current press releases and links to other marine mammal sites.
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