Iceland resumes whale hunt after two-year pause amid activist protests

Icelandic whaling vessels have set sail to resume commercial hunting after a two-year pause, signaling a controversial return to the practice. Two ships, including the Hvalur, one of the nation's last remaining whaling vessels, departed from Reykjavik's port on Friday night after conducting test runs of their harpoons. The decision to restart the hunt, which typically takes place between mid-June and mid-September, comes after a period of inactivity in 2024 and 2025, attributed to challenging economic conditions and a perceived lack of profitability.

The resumption has drawn immediate criticism from environmental organizations. Activists were present at the port to voice their opposition, with one demonstrator even chaining themselves to the mast of a ship before being escorted away by police. Iceland, along with Norway and Japan, remains one of the few nations globally that continues to authorize commercial whaling, a practice that frequently places it at odds with international conservation efforts.

This season's hunt will operate under revised quotas. According to the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute of Iceland, the catch limit for fin whales has been set at 150 individuals, a reduction of 28% from previous recommendations for the 2018-2025 period. For minke whales, the limit is set at 168 individuals, a 23% decrease. Despite these adjustments, critics like Joanna Swabe of Humane World for Animals argue that the whales will likely suffer a "terrible death" for meat that has little demand within Iceland itself. The Icelandic government is reportedly planning to introduce legislation to ban whaling in the upcoming autumn.

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whales will probably suffer a terrible death for meat that hardly anyone in Iceland wants to eat