Reykjavik – The Icelandic government said on Wednesday that it will introduce legislation in February to impose a permanent ban on commercial whaling. The proposal, posted on the ministry’s website, reflects the parliamentary majority’s support for ending the hunt that has drawn international criticism for years.
Legislative details and timeline
The bill, if passed, would make Iceland the third nation to cease commercial whaling, joining Norway and Japan as the only remaining whaling nations. Iceland’s current whaling season runs from June through late September. According to Humane World for Animals, an animal‑welfare monitoring group, 80 fin whales have been taken so far this season, with a quota that permits up to 150 fin whales.
Reasons behind the ban
Wendy Higgins, a spokeswoman for Humane World for Animals, said there is “considerable political and public support for this bill to ban commercial whaling, and compelling ethical, veterinary, legal and conservation reasons to hope it succeeds.” Fin whales, the primary target of Iceland’s whaling industry, are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable.
International context
Only Iceland, Norway and Japan have conducted commercial whaling in recent years, according to the International Whaling Commission’s catch list. Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993, while Iceland restarted in 2006, both in defiance of the 1986 international moratorium intended to protect whale populations. Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and now conducts whaling within its own territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
Indigenous exemptions
The 1986 moratorium does allow indigenous peoples in certain regions, such as Greenland and Alaska, to hunt whales for cultural and nutritional reasons. Those exemptions are separate from commercial operations and are recognized under international agreements.
Potential impact
If the legislation passes, Iceland would join a growing number of nations that have moved away from commercial whaling, reinforcing global conservation efforts. The ban could also affect the country’s sole remaining whaling company, which received a five‑year license from the interim government in 2024.
Reactions
Critics of the ban argue that whaling remains an important cultural tradition and a source of revenue for coastal communities. However, supporters point to the vulnerable status of fin whales and the ethical concerns raised by animal‑welfare advocates. The government’s decision signals a shift toward prioritizing marine conservation over commercial exploitation.
As the bill moves through the parliamentary process, Icelandic officials say they will continue to monitor public opinion and the economic implications for those directly involved in the industry.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
