Home / Environment / Iceland Eyes Whaling Ban, Leaving Norway & Japan Alone
Iceland Eyes Whaling Ban, Leaving Norway & Japan Alone
11 Sep
Summary
- Iceland plans to submit a bill in February 2027 to permanently ban whaling.
- A 2023 report revealed whales took two hours to die after being harpooned.
- Only Norway and Japan would permit commercial whaling if Iceland bans it.
Iceland intends to submit a bill in February 2027 that could permanently prohibit whaling in its waters. This potential ban would leave Norway and Japan as the sole nations continuing commercial whaling operations. The decision follows intense scrutiny after a 2023 government-commissioned report highlighted that harpooned whales endured a two-hour death, leading to a temporary suspension of the hunt that year.
Minister of Industries Hanna Katrín Friðriksson has expressed support for updating outdated whaling laws. Animal welfare groups, like Humane World for Animals (HWA), view the bill as a significant milestone. So far in 2026, up to September 8, Iceland's quota allowed for 80 fin whales to be caught, with the season running until the end of September.
Fin whales, the second-largest animals on Earth, are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Iceland's sole remaining whaling company, Hvalur, holds a permit that extends until 2029. While campaigners desire an immediate cessation, they acknowledge existing permits may be honored. This proposed update is seen as groundbreaking for marine conservation and animal welfare in a nation reliant on ocean health.
