Animal welfare groups have condemned Iceland’s decision to proceed with this year’s whale hunt, permitting the killing of 128 fin whales. They argue that this decision ignores significant evidence of animal suffering within the country’s whaling industry.
Iceland’s government has decided to authorize the whaling season, with a quota set for 128 fin whales. This decision comes amidst widespread anticipation that the government might ban whaling entirely, due to the industry’s declining status and ongoing ethical concerns.
Currently, Iceland has only one operational whaling company, Hvalur hf, which has been licensed to hunt this season. Since 2009, Hvalur hf has killed 993 fin whales, with the meat primarily exported to Japan.
Although this year’s quota is a reduction from the 264 fin whales allowed in 2023, animal welfare advocates remain critical. They highlight the ongoing brutality associated with commercial whaling. Adam Peyman, Director of Wildlife Programs at Humane Society International (HSI), emphasizes that no modification to the practice can mitigate its inherent cruelty. “The opportunity to end this cruel practice has been rejected,” he says.
Fin whales are classified as globally vulnerable, facing threats from pollution, climate change, entanglement in fishing nets, and ship strikes. The continued hunting of these whales adds to their risk of extinction.
Iceland’s whaling industry has faced increasing scrutiny. A recent government report, based on footage from surveillance cameras on Hvalur hf’s ships, revealed that over 40 percent of whales killed in the latest season experienced prolonged and painful deaths. The average time for a whale to die after being harpooned was 11.5 minutes, with some whales suffering for up to two hours before dying.
Iceland’s Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, acknowledged the gravity of these findings, calling for a broader discussion on the ethical implications of Iceland’s whaling practices.
Globally, Iceland, Japan, and Norway are the only countries where commercial whaling is still legal. Norway has conducted commercial whaling since 1993, after objecting to the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) moratorium. Over 14,000 minke whales have been killed in Norway during this period, primarily for export to Japan. Notably, about 70 percent of these whales are female, including many that are pregnant.
Japan has also recently increased its investment in whaling, including a new $47 million whaling vessel designed to boost its whale meat production. This vessel, which began operations last month, is intended to enhance Japan’s annual whale catch, including fin whales, following a recent legal change allowing the hunting of this vulnerable species.