Iceland: Government plans to permanently ban commercial whaling
The Icelandic government plans to submit a bill in February 2027 that would establish a permanent ban on commercial whaling. The legislation would leave Norway and Japan as the last two countries maintaining this practice.
SUMMARY
The Icelandic government will submit a bill to Parliament in February 2027 that aims to permanently ban commercial whaling. Announced on Wednesday, September 9, the legislation would end a practice that resumed in 2006 despite an international moratorium, leaving Norway and Japan as the only countries to continue it.
The bill is set to establish a permanent prohibition in Icelandic law. The ruling coalition holds a majority in Parliament, according to Reuters, which cited the government announcement made on Wednesday, September 9.
Iceland’s Minister of Industry, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, had previously announced in the spring that preparations for a ban bill were underway. At that time, she stated that the current whaling legislation was outdated, particularly concerning animal welfare, while noting that existing licenses must be considered until a new law is adopted.
The International Whaling Commission set commercial catches to zero starting in 1986 as part of its moratorium. Iceland, which left the organization in 1992, rejoined in 2002 with a reservation on the moratorium and resumed commercial whaling in 2006.
Ongoing 2026 season
The announced decision comes as the Icelandic whaling season for 2026 continues until the end of September. As of September 9, 80 common minke whales had been captured out of a quota of 150, according to data from Humane World for Animals reported by Reuters.
The common minke whale, the primary species targeted by Iceland’s whaling industry, is classified as vulnerable globally by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2024, Iceland had still permitted whaling for the season. The government subsequently granted a five-year license to the last active whaling company in the country.
Norway continues commercial whaling under objection to the International Whaling Commission’s moratorium. Japan left the Commission in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling the same year in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
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