In 2003, Iceland resumed commercial whaling, despite the 1986 IWC moratorium to ban whale hunts around the world. Today, as Iceland announces a plan to end commercial whaling, they remain to be killed for meat only in the Faroe Islands, Norway & Japan.
In Iceland's last full commercial season in 2018, 146 fin whales were slaughtered. Fin whales are the second largest animal on Earth after the blue whale! Iceland's current quotas for 2019 - 2023 are set at 209 fin whales, and 217 minke whales, the smallest baleen whale.
Photo: Aerial drone image of fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) taken off the south coast of Cork, Ireland in August 2020 by Emer Keaveney/ ORCA IRELAND.
Over the last three years, Iceland has only killed one whale - a minke whale, which caused global condemnation of Iceland's policy on whaling. In comparison, Norway alone killed over 1,200 minke whales in 2021.
Following the withdrawal of Japan from the IWC (International Whaling Commission) in 2019, the demand for Icelandic whale meat has dramatically dropped. Whale hunts in Iceland are no longer economically feasible, becoming too expensive following the implementation of measures to protect marine habitats such as the extension of no fishing coastal zones. In addition, due to strict health & safety requirements, exports and imports have become more difficult.
Good news for whales in Icelandic waters, however, hunts will continue in Norwegian waters, and unfortunately, #WhalesDontHaveBorders
Norways demand for meat is also dwindling - Read our Blog from 2020 Here: Quota of 1,300 Minke whales to be Slaughtered!
ORCA Ireland have been petitioning to END WHALING IN NORWAY and have collected over 8, 900 signatures to bring forth to the EU Commission!
LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE if you want to see an end to commercial whale hunts in the EU!!!
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