Iceland is preparing for a major shift in wildlife policy that could reshape the global whaling map.
Approval of a proposed measure would end the country's role in commercial whaling and leave Norway and Japan as the only nations still engaged in the practice.
Here's what to know
On September 9, Iceland's government announced plans to bring a bill before lawmakers calling for "a permanent ban on whaling," according to the New York Post. Because the ruling government has a parliamentary majority, the proposal carries significant weight.
At present, Iceland is one of just three countries that engage in commercial whaling.
For years, Iceland's whaling industry has inspired protests from animal welfare advocates and Hollywood celebrities. The sector mainly targets fin whales, which the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies as vulnerable.
The advocacy group Humane World for Animals says 80 fin whales have been captured during the current whaling season. Iceland's quota for the season allows up to 150 fin whales to be killed.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
The new proposal marks an abrupt shift, as Iceland's interim government issued a five-year license to the nation's only remaining whaling company in 2024. Enacting a permanent ban would invalidate that license.
Whaling was widely outlawed under an international moratorium established in 1986. Despite the global ban, Norway restarted commercial whaling in 1993, followed by Iceland in 2006.
After leaving the International Whaling Commission in 2019, Japan resumed commercial whaling in its own territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, according to The Post.
The global whaling moratorium contains exceptions for indigenous whaling in places such as Greenland and Alaska, where whale products are important to nutrition and cultural life.
What's being done?
Advocates welcomed the proposed whaling ban and urged lawmakers to pass the measure.
"There is considerable political and public support for this bill to ban commercial whaling, and compelling ethical, veterinary, legal and conservation reasons to hope it succeeds," said Wendy Higgins, a Humane World for Animals spokeswoman, per The Post.
Where can I learn more?
Iceland's proposed ban would mark a sharp turn from its 2024 decision to license fin whale hunts, giving hope that Japan and Norway could also reverse course on their whaling policies. Here are some other examples of marine-protection fights involving fin whales and other aquatic wildlife:
• In Iceland, officials approved killing vulnerable fin whales under a license that sparked outrage.
• In Japan, the government expanded commercial fin whale hunting despite condemnation as cruel and unnecessary.
• Japan also OK'd hunting endangered fin whales as whale meat vending machines grew more popular.
• Elsewhere, marine protections revealed the shocking impact of fishing bans on commercial fleets.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
