Iceland Moves to Ban Commercial Whaling in Historic Conservation Step
Iceland's government will submit a bill in February to permanently ban commercial whaling, leaving only Norway and Japan continuing the practice globally.
Iceland to Ban Commercial Whaling
For centuries, whales were hunted worldwide, driving many species to the brink of extinction and turning whaling into a global symbol of the struggle for marine wildlife conservation. Now, there is hope on the horizon as the government of Iceland prepares to submit a bill in February to ban whaling.
This landmark step leaves Norway and Japan as the only two nations in the world that continue commercial whaling. Years of protests by animal welfare activists and Hollywood celebrities have seemingly paid off, as the bill will include a total and permanent ban on hunting these giant marine mammals.
"There is widespread political and public support for the bill aimed at a complete ban on commercial whaling," said Wendy Higgins, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals. "Furthermore, there are all the compelling reasons — ethical, veterinary, legal, and environmental — to hope that this bill will be implemented."
Current Status and Global Context
During the current hunting season, which runs from June to approximately the end of September, 80 fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) were hunted as of September 9, according to data from Humane World for Animals. This accounts for about half of the currently permitted annual hunting quota for this species.
The fin whale, the primary target of Iceland's whaling industry, is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a vulnerable species. If the bill is approved, Iceland could transform the fight against whaling from a measure of activity restriction into a historic turning point.
