Iceland to propose whaling ban, leaving Norway and Japan isolated

Iceland’s government plans to introduce legislation in February to ban commercial whaling, a decision that would place Norway and Japan as the sole countries worldwide to still engage in this practice. Animal welfare advocates and celebrities have been vocal in their opposition to Iceland's whaling activities, which have been ongoing for years.

The proposed bill will establish an indefinite prohibition on whaling, as announced by the government on its website. During the current hunting season, which spans from June to late September, 80 fin whales have already been captured as of September 9. The hunting quota permits the killing of up to 150 fin whales this year. Wendy Higgins, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, a group that monitors whale catches, expressed strong support for the bill, citing ethical, veterinary, legal, and conservation reasons.

Fin whales, Iceland's primary target, are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as vulnerable. In 2024, Iceland's interim government granted a five-year license to the sole remaining whaling company. Currently, only Iceland, Norway, and Japan conduct commercial whaling, according to the International Whaling Commission's catch list.

Norway began commercial whaling again in 1993, while Iceland resumed its practice in 2006, both actions occurring despite an international moratorium on whaling since 1986. The moratorium permits indigenous communities in regions like Greenland and Alaska to hunt whales, as these animals hold significant nutritional and cultural importance for them.