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🇮🇸 Iceland /Elections & Politics

Icelandic Whaling Resumes: 11th Whale Caught Amidst Activist Opposition

From Morgunblaðið · () Icelandic

Translated from Icelandic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The whaling vessel Hvalur 9 returned to Hvalfjörður with a fin whale, marking the 11th whale caught this season.
  • This is the first whaling season in Iceland since 2023, with Hvalur 8 also participating in the hunt.
  • Environmental activists from the ship Bandero, led by Paul Watson, are present and have vowed to disrupt whaling activities, while the Icelandic Coast Guard is monitoring their movements.

The Icelandic whaling vessel Hvalur 9 docked in Hvalfjörður, bringing ashore its 11th catch of the current season – a fin whale. This marks the resumption of whaling activities in Iceland, with this season being the first since 2023.

Hvalur 8, another whaling ship, also set out for hunting grounds on the same day. The return of Hvalur 9 with its catch highlights the ongoing operations in the North Atlantic.

However, the whaling season faces opposition from environmental activists. The ship Bandero, associated with prominent whale conservationist Paul Watson, is reportedly positioned west of Iceland. Its crew has declared intentions to halt Icelandic whaling operations by any means necessary.

In response to the activists' presence, the Icelandic Coast Guard is maintaining an active surveillance of the Bandero's movements. The patrol vessel Þór departed from Reykjavík with a specialized team, including coast guard personnel and tactical operators, to monitor the situation closely.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Morgunblaðið in Icelandic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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