Iceland will not be hunting fin whales this summer, following a decision by Hvalur hf., the only company in the country licensed to hunt the species. CEO Kristj谩n Loftsson, a leading figure in Iceland鈥檚 whaling industry for over five decades, confirmed the suspension of operations for the 2025 season due to economic challenges, including declining demand in Japan.
鈥淣o hunting this season,鈥 Loftsson told the Icelandic newspaper Morgunbla冒i冒 earlier this month. He cited poor prices in Japan the main export market for Icelandic whale meat along with rising transport and storage costs, but lets hope it鈥檚 really because they have finally realised that it is an antiquated 鈥漷radition鈥 that bring no benefits to human health or our oceans!
Loftsson, now in his early 80s, has managed Hvalur since the 1970s. The company, founded by his father, has long dominated Iceland鈥檚 commercial whaling industry. This is the second consecutive year it has chosen not to hunt fin whales. Despite the pause, Iceland鈥檚 government approved new quotas in late 2024, allowing up to 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales to be killed annually through 2028.
In 2023, the whaling season was temporarily suspended by Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Svand铆s Svavarsd贸ttir after a government commissioned report found that the hunting methods often caused prolonged suffering. Though the ban was later lifted, the incident intensified national debate and introduced stricter welfare oversight. Environmental groups cautiously welcomed the latest development. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) called the decision a 鈥減ositive step,鈥 but emphasised that it was driven by economics, not policy.
A second company, Tjaldtangi ehf., still holds a licence to hunt minke whales but has not done so since 2021. As of late June, it had made no announcement regarding this year.
Public opinion in Iceland has increasingly turned against commercial whaling. A 2023 survey by the firm Mask铆na showed that a majority (particularly amongst the younger generations) oppose to the practice. Whale watching has grown into a key sector of Iceland鈥檚 tourism industry, boosting the argument that live whales offer more long-term value than hunted ones. While no fin whales will be killed this season, commercial whaling remains legal in Iceland. Conservationists continue to call for a permanent end a decision the government has yet to take.