ESA will not investigate whaling complaints due to lack of EU legislation on wild marine mammal welfare

The European Supervisory Authority (ESA) has announced it will not investigate complaints concerning whale welfare in the context of hunting, as no specific European Economic Area (EEA) legislation exists for the welfare of wild marine mammals like whales. This means ESA will not act on complaints based on such grounds.

According to a statement from the authority, ESA has received a number of inquiries and complaints regarding whale hunting during the current season. This follows a similar complaint lodged in 2024 concerning whale hunting in Icelandic waters, which expressed concerns about the issuance of hunting permits and the welfare of whales during the hunts.

The ESA's decision effectively closes the door on E.U. regulatory intervention in Iceland's whaling practices concerning animal welfare. The absence of specific legislation means that issues related to the treatment of whales during hunts fall outside the ESA's purview, leaving such matters to national regulations or industry self-regulation.