Over 400 Whales Killed Annually?…NGO Protests Iceland's Whaling Permission

Permits Granted for Hunting 209 Fin Whales and 217 Minke Whales
Animal Welfare Groups Demand "End Commercial Whaling"

The Icelandic government has decided to allow whaling until 2029 despite opposition from animal welfare groups.

According to the British BBC broadcast on the 5th (local time), the Icelandic government announced that it will permit whaling until 2029. Accordingly, during the whaling season from June to September each year, the government stated that 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can be caught. The fin whale is the second largest mammal in the world after the blue whale and is classified as a globally endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the government explained that the allowable catch quota was determined based on advice from the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries. The government added that while it guarantees some predictability to the industry, the catch quota is limited.

Tourists participating in a whale tour in Iceland. Iceland offers whale-watching tours alongside whale hunting. Provided by arcticseatours

Iceland has allowed whaling in five-year intervals, with the last permitted period ending last year. Although the total quota allocated last year was 209 whales, only 24 were caught due to the whaling season being shortened to three weeks. Last year, whaling was suspended for two months after a government-commissioned investigation ruled that the methods used violated animal welfare laws.

Earlier, last year, Ludd Tombrock, director of Humane Society International, a global animal protection organization, stated in a press release, "Whales are already facing serious threats in the oceans from pollution, climate change, entanglement in fishing nets, and ship collisions, and ending cruel commercial whaling is the only ethical conclusion."

Environmental and animal welfare groups also voiced strong criticism of the government’s decision. The Icelandic Environmental Association condemned the government for a decision that infringes on climate, nature, and animal welfare. Sharon Livermore, head of the Marine Conservation Program at the International Animal Welfare Fund, criticized the outgoing government for rushing a controversial decision while some wealthy whaling operators continue to exert influence.

In Iceland, following the early general election on the 30th of last month, the center-left Social Democratic Party won, and it is expected that a Social Democratic-led government will replace the coalition government of the Green Party, Independence Party, and Progressive Party that had been in power for the past seven years.