Iceland, one of the few countries still permitting whaling, has granted two whalers a five-year license to hunt 209 common minke whales annually. Despite a global moratorium since 1986 and rising public opposition, whaling continues, raising sustainability concerns as common minke whales are classified as ‘vulnerable.’ Recent controversies over hunting methods and environmental objections have sparked further debate, especially following the arrest of activist Paul Watson in Greenland amidst ongoing whaling activities in Japan.
Iceland, alongside Norway and Japan, remains one of the few nations permitting whaling. As of Thursday, two of its whalers have been granted permission to continue this contentious activity for an additional five years.
The recent arrest of American-Canadian whale activist Paul Watson in Greenland has reignited discussions surrounding whaling, a practice that has been under a moratorium since 1986. Despite this, three nations continue to challenge the ban, collectively hunting approximately 1,200 whales annually, as reported by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
The newly issued permit allows Icelandic whalers to catch 209 common minke whales each year, which includes 48 in a fishing area that is rarely visited by fishermen. The season for hunting runs from mid-June to September, with a total quota of 217 minke whales, as announced by the government, which recently resigned after losing the legislative elections.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies common minke whales as ‘vulnerable,’ raising concerns about their sustainability.
Permit Details and Public Opinion
The whaling permit, traditionally valid for five years, expired in 2023. Hvalur, the sole active whaler, requested an annual extension, which was granted but often delayed until late in the hunting season.
“The management of living marine resources in Iceland is governed by strict regulations,” states the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, despite the fact that a significant portion of the population opposes whaling. A recent Maskína institute survey revealed that 51% of Icelanders are against the practice, marking a nine-point increase in opposition over the past four years.
Once a staple in Icelandic cuisine, whale meat has seen a decline in popularity among locals.
Controversial Methods and Environmental Concerns
In the previous year, Iceland paused its whaling activities for two months following a government investigation that determined the hunting methods were not compliant with animal welfare laws. Inspections by the public veterinary agency indicated that the explosive harpoons used inflicted prolonged suffering on the whales.
The government later allowed whaling to resume but imposed restrictions on hunting methods and mandated the presence of official inspectors to document each catch.
The 2023 whaling season was brief, lasting only three weeks, during which just 24 common minke whales were captured out of a possible quota of 209. Another whaler, Tjaldtanga ehf., is permitted to hunt minke whales, although no catches have been reported since the summer of 2018 due to the high costs associated with the activity.
Environmental groups have voiced their objections to this governmental decision. “Democracy is not upheld, and the issuance of the permit jeopardizes climate, nature, and animal welfare,” declared the Icelandic environmental association and Young Environmentalists in a joint statement.
A 2015 estimate by the Icelandic Marine and Freshwater Research Institute suggested that around 35,000 common minke whales inhabit the waters off eastern Greenland and western Iceland.
Historically reliant on fishing and whaling, Iceland’s economy has shifted focus towards tourism, with whale-watching excursions becoming increasingly popular among visitors.
In Greenland, activist Paul Watson remains in pre-trial detention as he awaits a decision from the Danish government regarding Japan’s extradition request. Japan has renewed a 2012 request, accusing Watson of being partially responsible for damage and injuries to a Japanese whaling vessel during a Sea Shepherd campaign.
Japan, having exited the IWC in 2018, appears resolute in continuing its whaling activities, having launched a new whaling ship this spring and added the common minke whale to its list of targeted species.
While Iceland is a member of the IWC, it operates under a reservation clause regarding the moratorium. A proposal to resume commercial whaling in late September ultimately fell through.