Whale hunting in Iceland is not a prohibited activity, but rather regulated, with certain conditions.
Recently, the country’s largest whaling company, Hvalur hf., announced that it will not hunt this season. This is the second consecutive year that the company has made this decision for the summer season.
## Whale hunting in Iceland: this season’s decision
While Hvalur is not the only whaling company in Iceland, it is the most important, as it has permission to hunt 200 fin whales this season.
However, its CEO, Kristján Loftsson, explained that their staff was informed of the decision, which they made due to the global economic situation.
“Given the current economic situation, Hvalur HF sees no other option but to remain docked and wait for better days. The situation will be reassessed next year,” Loftsson told local media.
He stated that the economic situation in Japan (where the company sells almost all of its products), as well as inflation, reached a point where whale hunting is no longer economically viable.
“The evolution of product prices in our main market, Japan, has been unfavorable lately and is worsening,” he emphasized.
## Second consecutive year
Whales were also not hunted last year. In this case, it was rather a political maneuver, as SvandÃs Svavarsdóttir, then Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for the Left-Greens, issued the permit for the season just one day before its start.
In that sense, the company pointed out that the late issuance made it impossible for them to properly plan and execute their operations in 2024.
Whale hunting remains a topic of debate and controversy in Iceland, with the public opinion divided on whether they support the practice or not.
## Countries that allow whale hunting
Currently, Iceland, Norway, and Japan are the only countries that still allow the controversial practice of whale hunting.
The whale hunting season in Iceland usually runs from mid-June to September. However, in recent years, Icelandic whalers have had trouble meeting their quotas.
## The case of Japan: an unresolved environmental conflict
Japan justified whale hunting under the pretext of “scientific research,” among other cultural and food-related points.
After withdrawing from the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling in 2018, the country resumed commercial hunting. In its territorial waters, the hunting of three species of whales, including the sei whale and the minke whale, is permitted.
## Demand and Criticisms
Whale meat, which reached its peak consumption after World War II, is now considered a luxury dish in Japan. However, interest and demand have dropped drastically.
According to the Ministry of Fisheries, between 1000 and 2000 tons of whale meat are consumed annually, compared to over 230,000 tons in the 1960s.
Additionally, the average Japanese person only consumes 40 grams annually. Its decline coincides with a decrease in fish in the national diet: Japan now consumes 24 kilos of fish per capita, compared to 31 kilos of meat.
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