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Iceland to end whaling in 2024 with drop in demand for whale meat

admin admin • February 4, 2022

Iceland to end whaling in 2024 with drop in demand for whale meat.

ORCA SciComm Team | 4th February 2022


Iceland have announced an end to commercial whale hunts in 2024, after a government minister commented there was "little justification for the practice". Whaling in Iceland is no longer profitable, due to a decrease in the consumption of whale meat and since Japan re-commenced whaling operations  after a three decade hiatus in 2019. 

With little economic incentive remaining, the Icelandic government have announced a plan to end the unjust practice of commercial whale hunts.


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.


FIN WHALE (Balaenoptera physalus)

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!


WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please SIGN THE PETITION!


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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