Iceland Approves Whaling 2024 Despite Scandals
Following their cabinet meeting, the government of Iceland has just announced that, despite all criticism, it has once again approved the hunt of 128 fin whales this year.
Fisheries Minister Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir said at a subsequent press conference, that the decision to approve whaling was not necessarily one that aligned with her views or those of her party: “Nevertheless, I must adhere to the laws and regulations, and this is now my conclusion.”
While the quota is lower than in the past five years (209), animal and species protection organisations are appalled: “It is incomprehensible that Iceland’s government still allows itself to be led by the nose by a single man, Kristjan Loftsson,” said Sandra Altherr, head of the marine protection campaign at Pro Wildlife. “The veterinary authority has repeatedly demonstrated over the past two years how cruel fin whale hunting is and how long the animals must suffer. Fin whales are also still listed as vulnerable on the International Red List.”
Massive Animal Welfare Violations Identified in Iceland’s Whaling
Since the resumption of whaling in Iceland in 2006, despite the global commercial whaling ban, 1,025 fin whales and 454 minke whales have been killed — Iceland cites a formal objection to the whaling moratorium as justification. A five-year quota for fin whales had expired in 2023; prior to that, the chief veterinary authority had identified massive animal welfare violations during the whaling seasons of 2022 and 2023. For weeks it had been unclear whether Iceland’s government would again approve catch quotas from 2024 onwards and whether the whaling vessels would be permitted to set sail.
Iceland’s whaling law is already 60 years old; a legal review in parliament is planned.
