Environment Minister Peter Garrett has called on Iceland and Norway to respect the international global moratorium on commercial whaling.

The call follows reports Iceland is considering issuing commercial whaling quotas for 2008, on the back of Norway's recent decision to approve a quota.

"Whale protection requires binding rules that apply to all countries," Mr Garrett said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, a small number of countries are opting out of commission rules or using loopholes to continue hunting whales."

International Whaling Commission (IWC) members recently met in London to discuss how to improve collective efforts to protect whales, Mr Garrett said.

"This cooperative work is undermined when governments award themselves unilateral whaling quotas."

Click here to read the complete story in The Sydney Morning Herald.