Why has Iceland started whaling again?
- Mathilde
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
On Friday, the 19th of June 2026, Iceland’s two remaining whaling vessels from the Hvalur hf company set out to hunt fin whales again after a two-year break. In the early morning of the 23rd of June 2026, one of the two vessels came back to port with two fin whales in tow. In the evening of that same day, the other ship returned with one dead male fin whale in tow, all three slaughtered for absolutely no reason at all! Why is this happening again? What is the meat used for?
This year, the one remaining whaling company in Iceland is planning to slaughter 150 fin whales and 168 minke whales. The last whale killed in Icelandic waters was in September 2023, after a temporary break as questions were raised, at the end of the 2022 season, about the animal welfare and the method of hunting by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority. Video footage had come to light of the whaling, which showed the prolonged suffering of whales after being hit by the harpoon. Some of these whales had been shot multiple times, and one whale was chased for 5 hours before it was shot and after being shot, it could take up to 2 hours for a whale to die. In September 2023, this pause was lifted on the condition that stricter regulations be implemented to better account for animal welfare. And in one month, 24 fin whales were slaughtered, including one pregnant female. In 2024, the Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries approved a new whaling season. Luckily for the whales, though, it took her a long time to make the decision, too long for the whaling company, and therefore the season was cancelled before it was even approved. In 2025, the season didn’t go ahead because the company's owner deemed it not financially viable, as there was no market for whale meat. In the last year, this whale market hasn’t magically improved; it’s still very much the same, as in not existing. Which is why everyone, me included, thought that this would be the end of whaling. Unfortunately, this is not the case, which begs the question, why is the whaling happening this year? And what is the whale meat used for?
Why is it happening now?
Honestly, no one knows or really understands the why. The full reason for this year's slaughter might be more personal or, rather, more political in nature, as this is most likely one of the last years that whaling will be legally possible in Iceland. In August, there is a referendum in Iceland on whether to restart negotiations to join the European Union. The European Union is very much against whaling, and if Iceland really wants to join the EU they will have to disband whaling altogether.
This whaling could be seen as a political statement, potentially signalling to vote against initiating negotiations with the EU during the referendum. Furthermore, the Icelandic government is currently working on new legislation to ban whaling altogether and plans to present this legislation in parliament in the autumn. What is also astounding is the way the meat is being processed, in the open air. From a hygienic point of view, eating whale meat doesn't sound that appealing anyway. And then there is the fact that whale meat contains many chemicals, such as PFAS, PFOS and mercury. Consuming too much whale meat might lead to mercury poisoning or reduced brain growth in children, and affects the reproductive organs in women.
What is the meat used for?
Historically, most of the whales killed in Icelandic waters are up for export. 82% of Icelanders have never eaten whale meat in their lives, and only 2% eat it regularly. And when they eat whale meat, it's mostly minke whale, which is often imported from Norway. So what is actually happening with all this whale meat? There is a very simple answer: the whale meat will just be stored in freezers. The only country that is even remotely interested in buying or consuming whale meat is Japan. But even in Japan, whale meat consumption is dwindling, and Japan already has its own whaling fleet and hunts enough for its own consumption. Who then is the main consumer of whale meat in Iceland?
Whaling vs Tourism
Well, that would be the tourists who believe whale meat is an Icelandic delicacy, which it isn't. When one really dives into traditional Icelandic dishes, one won’t come across any whale meat. Typical Icelandic dishes include various fish dishes, Pylsur (hot dog) and fermented shark. Still, there are restaurants in Reykjavik that have minke whale meat on their menus; the target is only tourists. So if these restaurants stop serving whale meat, then whale consumption will almost completely disappear in Iceland!
Some tourists also believe that whaling is part of the Icelandic culture and tradition. And again, this is not the case. Iceland is most definitely a fishing nation; fisheries, together with tourism, are among the most important sectors of the Icelandic economy. When you look historically at commercial whaling, Iceland hardly ever did any whaling. During the height of whaling, it was mostly other countries, such as Norway, the Netherlands, and the Basque, that hunted whales around Iceland. The Icelanders themselves preferred to stick to herring fisheries. Iceland has participated in some scientific whaling since the beginning of the whaling moratorium in 1986. But the actual Icelandic commercial whaling in Iceland started in 2006. Since then, over 1000 fin whales have been slaughtered. And these fin whales, the second-largest animal on our planet, are considered to be vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List. Around 10 000 fin whales are thought to be left on the planet.
If you want to help protect these whales and also puffins in Iceland, there is a large campaign called For the Love of Iceland that raises awareness about whale and puffin consumption in Iceland. There is also a pledge anyone can sign to help protect whales and puffins in Iceland! It’s far better to come to Iceland to see these animals in the wild and free as they should be, rather than to come here to eat them. Meet them, don’t eat them! Sign the pledge here! The more people sign, the bigger the statement to the Icelandic government to stop this barbaric practise! The restart of whaling can also lead to a reduction in tourist visits to Iceland.
In conclusion, the last whaling company of Iceland has started whaling again, despite the fact that there is no market to sell the whale meat. The way the whales are hunted includes prolonged suffering. And it’s all happening needlessly. As of this moment, three fin whales have been slaughtered, and one of them shows signs of being hit by a harpoon at least three times. And both vessels are out at sea yet again. Both vessels are violating international maritime law by not having their AIS (Automatic Identification System) enabled. AIS is a system that every seafaring ship needs, as it transmits the ship's position, speed, and identity. Through this system, ships can track one another to prevent collisions, and in an emergency, other ships can respond more quickly. Of course, this can also mean that for ships like these two whaling vessels, protestors come and try to save the whales. This barbaric and useless slaughtering needs to stop! Meet them, don't eat them!
Sources:
Photos by Léo Guedes: https://www.instagram.com/leoguedesp/
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