Iceland is expected to submit a bill in February 2027 that could permanently ban commercial whaling in its waters. This move would mean Norway and Japan would be the only two countries still permitting the practice.
The announcement of the bill, made on the Icelandic government’s website, follows comments from Iceland’s minister of industries, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, earlier this year. Ms Friðriksson called for updates to what she described as outdated whaling laws and expressed support for an end to the whale hunt.
Whaling in Iceland has been under increased scrutiny since a government-commissioned report in 2023 revealed that harpooned whales took up to two hours to die. This report led to a temporary suspension of the hunt in 2023.
According to Humane World for Animals (HWA), 80 fin whales were caught in Icelandic waters up to 8 September this year. The hunting season typically runs from June to the end of September, with Iceland's quota set at up to 150 animals.