Iceland is preparing to take a significant step towards the permanent cessation of commercial whaling, a move that would leave only Japan and Norway continuing the practice. The Icelandic government plans to introduce a bill to parliament by February aimed at establishing a definitive ban on commercial whaling. This proposal comes after years of discussions and mounting pressure from animal welfare and conservation organizations that have been advocating against the practice.
The Icelandic whaling industry has primarily targeted fin whales, a species currently classified as vulnerable. During the hunting season from June to September, several dozen fin whales were captured under a quota sanctioned by the government. The proposed legislation has garnered strong backing from animal welfare groups, who argue that the ethical, environmental, and conservation issues associated with commercial whaling necessitate its end.
Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006, despite a worldwide moratorium implemented in 1986 to protect whale populations. Norway followed suit in 1993, and Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after exiting the International Whaling Commission. Should Iceland’s legislation be enacted, it would mark a pivotal shift, leaving Norway and Japan as the sole countries actively engaged in commercial whaling.
The global moratorium on commercial whaling does, however, include exemptions for indigenous communities in certain areas, such as parts of Greenland and Alaska. These exemptions permit whale hunting for nutritional, cultural, and traditional purposes, recognizing the unique customs and needs of these communities.