OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Norway opened its controversial whaling season Friday with whalers going after an increased limit of 580 minke whales. One boat was sabotaged by activists and may have to sit out the commercial hunt.
Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993 following a six-year hiatus, despite international protests and a non-binding ban by the International Whaling Commission.
Norway's Fisheries Ministry argues that minke whales are not endangered and that an uncontrolled population of the whales would threaten valuable fish stocks. It has steadily increased annual quotas.
The limit was raised from 425 minke whales to 580 for this year, even though hunters took only 382 whales in 1996.
One of the 34 authorized whaling boats was damaged by arson Wednesday night. It was unclear if it could be repaired in time to take part in the hunt, which ends July 21. The same boat, the "Senet," also was sabotaged in 1994. Paul Watson, leader of the Sea Shepherd environmental group, was convicted of the sabotage in absentia and sentenced to 120 days in jail.
Watson was seized in Amsterdam last month and is fighting extradition to Norway, where he also faces charges of ramming a naval vessel during a whaling protest.
A previously unknown group called "Agenda 21" claimed responsibility for Wednesday's fire.
The Greenpeace environmental group, which opposes both whaling and extremist tactics, denounced the sabotage.
Because of tough ice conditions in the Arctic regions where the hunt takes place, it is unlikely that many boats will start whaling right away.
A new feature of this year's hunt is that each boat can only have an inspector on board for six weeks, effectively limiting individual boats' hunting season to six weeks, even though the season lasts closer to three months.