Iceland’s government has granted its sole whaling company, Hvalur, a licence to hunt 128 fin whales for the 2024 season, drawing strong criticism from animal welfare groups.

The government defended the decision, stating it was based on a precautionary approach emphasising the sustainable use of resources.

However, Humane Society International criticised the move, citing an independent report by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority on the 2022 whaling season.

The report revealed that some whales took up to two hours to die, with 41% enduring severe suffering for an average of 11.5 minutes, which was deemed a violation of Iceland’s Animal Welfare Act.

Iceland, along with Norway and Japan, remains one of the few nations permitting commercial whaling.

In a statement, the Icelandic government said the licence to Hvalur “is valid for the 2024 hunting season”.

It said the company was now permitted to hunt “99 whales in the Greenland/West Iceland region and 29 whales in the East Iceland/Faroe Islands region, totalling 128 whales”.

“This decision aligns with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute’s 2017 advice and considers the conservative ecosystem factors of the International Whaling Commission,” the statement added.

Last year, Hvalur was authorised to hunt 161 fin whales, using its two whaling vessels.

The whaling season typically runs from June to September, before weather conditions become unfavourable.

Most of the harvested whale meat is exported to Japan.

This practice has sparked protests from conservation groups, which argue that fin whales, the second-largest marine mammals after blue whales, are vulnerable to extinction.

A recent survey indicated that 51% of Icelanders oppose commercial whaling, highlighting growing domestic opposition to the practice.

 

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