BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — The advocacy group, Avaaz, wants the St Kitts Government to unregister a vessel that reportedly transports illegal whale meat and is being closely monitored by authorities here.

Avaaz, claimed that more than 1,700 tonnes of whale meat are being transported on the Winter Bay — a St Kitts/Nevis registered Icelandic vessel hat travels between Russia and the North Pole.

The group is pressuring the Dr Timothy Harris-led administration to remove the flag from the vessel to block it from leaving port.

“Tourism is the main pillar of their country’s economy and we can put their reputation on the line by throwing them into our giant global spotlight,” said Avaaz in a statement on its website.

In response, director of the St Kitts Marine Resources Department, Mark Williams, said while taking legal action is an option, they are monitoring the situation.

He said taking legal action is an option but the situation needs to be monitored.

Last month, the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Eugene Hamilton said Government investigations revealed that the Winter Bay was not involved in illegal fishing activity related to whaling.