11. Before the 1980s, vast overharvesting by commercial fishermen and whale hunters was turning the waters into dead zones. 12. Indeed, since the Viking era, Norwegian minke whale hunters have been more conventional fishermen most of the year. 13. Japan likens the proposed minke quota for coastal whalers to those granted aboriginal whale hunters in places like Alaska and Greenland. 14. From the Middle Ages until the end of the 19th century, the local fishermen were also whale hunters in winter. 15. The Norwegian whale hunters will have to follow the quota, which . . . is based on the lower population estimates. 16. Originally led by the fisherman and whale hunter Steinar Bastesen, its current leader is Bengt Stabrun Johansen ( since 2012 ). 17. In keeping with tradition, the quotas were announced at a meeting of the Norwegian Whale Hunters Association late Friday in northern Norway. 18. Norway's whale hunters apparently won't meet this year's higher quota despite getting their hunt extended by a week. 19. The highest number of whales hunters have been authorized since the hunts resumed was 753 minke in 1999, when they only got 589. 20. With the new law which prohibits the whale hunters to stab the whales from the boats, this should not take place any more.
