Icelandic whale hunters have left port for their first hunt in 14 years after stormy winds delayed their departure.

Gunnar Johannsson, the captain of one of three boats being sent out, told Reuters his ship had left port yesterday.

The vessels are on a six-week mission to kill 38 minke whales ? despite fierce opposition from governments, animal welfare groups and environmentalists. Iceland says the hunts are for scientific purposes, to protect its fish stocks.

It says whales have become so abundant since a worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling that they are threatening stocks of fish, including cod. But the decision was attacked by the UK and US governments, as well as animal welfare groups.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw) says there is no scientific basis for the operation, and that Iceland cannot use science to camouflage its desire to resume commercial whaling.

In Britain, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is stopping short of calling for a boycott of Icelandic products, but it is asking consumers to think twice before buying fish from the island.

Tourism fears

Iceland?s tourism industry has also joined in the criticism, fearing the decision could damage the country?s image, and threaten the increasingly popular whale-watching business.

?Whaling is part of Iceland?s past, and must remain so,? Greenpeace Executive Director, Gerd Leipold said in a statement.

?While we don?t expect to change everyone?s minds, Greenpeace hopes that we are able to give many Icelanders the confidence to say no to whaling forever.?

Iceland has not hunted whales since 1989. It left the International Whaling Commission, the body that regulates world whaling, in 1992.

But it rejoined in 2002 on condition that it was allowed to register its objection to the moratorium on commercial whaling that has been in place since 1986.

Earlier this year, it said it wanted to hunt 100 minke, 100 sei and 50 fin whales. The environmental organisation Greenpeace has recalled its flagship Rainbow Warrior for a mission to Iceland.

The ship, which campaigned against Icelandic whaling on its maiden voyage in 1978, is due to arrive in two weeks.