Iceland could permanently ban whale hunting

The Icelandic government plans to submit a bill to Parliament in February 2027 that could put an end to commercial whale hunting, AFP reports. Iceland is one of the last three countries in the world-alongside Norway and Japan-to still authorize this practice. The bill will be drafted based on a report, with authorities paying close attention to recommendations regarding the implementation of a permanent ban on whale hunting. "In February, a bill aimed at amending the legislation on whale hunting (...) will be presented to Parliament," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry told AFP.

• Low-profit activity with limited markets

According to Iceland's Minister of Industry, Hanna Katrin Fritriksson, the decision is based on two main considerations: the country's commercial interests and animal welfare.

The activity is considered to yield very low profits, and demand for whale hunting products has dropped significantly. The minister told the Icelandic publication • Visir• -as cited by AFP-that there are no longer sufficient markets for these products. "Last summer, the permit was valid, yet no one went out to hunt," Hanna Katrin Fritriksson stated to • Visir• . This year, hunting resumed after a two-year hiatus. However, the catch remained "far below the established quota," the minister noted. • Criticism from animal welfare organizations

Iceland frequently faces criticism from animal welfare organizations, which challenge the violent nature of the hunt and the economic necessity of the activity.

Wendy Higgins, a spokesperson for Humane World for Animals, described the bill as a "truly important step" toward abolishing a practice she considers cruel. "Every whale killed by an explosive harpoon in Icelandic waters represents a tragic loss of life, sacrificed needlessly for an industry that has no place in the modern world," Higgins told AFP.

• Iceland, Norway, and Japan: The last countries to authorize commercial whaling

Currently, Iceland, Norway, and Japan are the only countries that still authorize commercial whaling. A potential permanent ban in Iceland would further reduce the number of nations permitting this activity. However, the final decision will depend on parliamentary debates and the specific form of the bill to be presented in February 2027.