Whaling in Iceland
Does Iceland still hunt whales?
Iceland was never a major whaling country on the scale of Norway, America or Japan, so it’s depressing that the practise continues to this day despite flourishing a whale watching tourism industry. In fact there is only one whaling company still operating, but it continues to be granted permits by the Icelandic government despite constant talk of a permanent ban.
Historically, minke whale has been served in Icelandic restaurants, largely to cater to intrigued tourists who are under the impression that eating whale meat is traditional. Fin whales meanwhile are exported to Japan, which resumed its own whaling programme in 2019. Whale meat consumption is falling in Japan, though. There’s growing awareness that whales can be worth more alive than dead through tourism and marine wildlife tours, so there’s hope that the practise will die out there soon enough too.
In Iceland meanwhile, public awareness campaigns by wildlife charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation and other NGOs mean tourists are increasingly aware that, by eating whale, they help perpetuate whaling. However, Reykjavik has a reputation as an adventurous foodie destination and the appetite for ‘gourmet and exotic delicacies’ remains strong.
Historically, minke whale has been served in Icelandic restaurants, largely to cater to intrigued tourists who are under the impression that eating whale meat is traditional. Fin whales meanwhile are exported to Japan, which resumed its own whaling programme in 2019. Whale meat consumption is falling in Japan, though. There’s growing awareness that whales can be worth more alive than dead through tourism and marine wildlife tours, so there’s hope that the practise will die out there soon enough too.
In Iceland meanwhile, public awareness campaigns by wildlife charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation and other NGOs mean tourists are increasingly aware that, by eating whale, they help perpetuate whaling. However, Reykjavik has a reputation as an adventurous foodie destination and the appetite for ‘gourmet and exotic delicacies’ remains strong.
Why does Iceland hunt whales?
The reasons for whale hunting in Iceland are complex, but surprisingly they aren’t simply cultural. This isn’t just a case of proud Icelanders defending their hereditary right to hunt whales as their forefathers did (although a certain Viking independence and dislike of regulation may play its part). The pro/anti arguments aren’t as simple as culture versus conservation.
1. It’s “sustainable”
One reason for whaling is that Iceland views its hunting of minke and fin whales as sustainable. This is widely disputed. Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) says there isn’t enough credible data on the abundance and distribution of fin whales and minke whales to be able to make that statement.
2. It doesn’t damage Iceland’s reputation
Another justification is a somewhat laughable assertion that whaling doesn’t harm Iceland’s interests. International criticism of Iceland has been widespread, including a group of 35 countries delivering a formal diplomatic protest to the Icelandic government, registering their strong opposition to its continued whaling.
3. To protect fish stock
In addition, the notion that whales should be culled to protect fish stocks persists. The Icelandic government and the University of Iceland’s Institute for Economic Studies have estimated that culling 150 minke and fin whales each a year could add as much as US$94 million to the economy. This argument has since been debunked by Whale and Dolphin Conservation, but it still has influence.
Is it ethical to eat whale meat in Iceland?
Eating whale meat is very contentious. You will still find it on the menu in some Icelandic restaurants but very few local people eat whale meat regularly. It’s actually curious tourists that fuel most of the demand for whale meat in Iceland.
The number of whales in our seas and oceans today is nowhere near what it should be. Whale numbers were decimated by over a century of commercial whaling, and while that was banned in 1986, some countries still hunt them for ‘scientific research’. Most female whales give birth to a calf every three or four years, and that slow reproductive rate combined with the many threats they face, from predation by orcas and hunting by humans to collisions with ships, and climate change, means that despite generations of protection, six out of 13 whale species remain either endangered or vulnerable to extinction.
Wherever you stand on the debate over tradition, or whether curiosity is enough of a reason to order whale in a restaurant, no-one could argue against the fact that the way in which whales are hunted for their meat is cruel. Grenades are attached to harpoons that are fired into the whale’s body. When the grenade explodes the whale is (hopefully) stunned and hauled aboard a ship where it can take hours to die. However, often the lines will break and the injured whale will sink back into the water where it bleeds to death.
This is one tradition we can’t wait to see the back of.
The number of whales in our seas and oceans today is nowhere near what it should be. Whale numbers were decimated by over a century of commercial whaling, and while that was banned in 1986, some countries still hunt them for ‘scientific research’. Most female whales give birth to a calf every three or four years, and that slow reproductive rate combined with the many threats they face, from predation by orcas and hunting by humans to collisions with ships, and climate change, means that despite generations of protection, six out of 13 whale species remain either endangered or vulnerable to extinction.
Wherever you stand on the debate over tradition, or whether curiosity is enough of a reason to order whale in a restaurant, no-one could argue against the fact that the way in which whales are hunted for their meat is cruel. Grenades are attached to harpoons that are fired into the whale’s body. When the grenade explodes the whale is (hopefully) stunned and hauled aboard a ship where it can take hours to die. However, often the lines will break and the injured whale will sink back into the water where it bleeds to death.
This is one tradition we can’t wait to see the back of.
What you can do to stop whaling in Iceland
Don’t order whale meat – ever. You might think you’re eating something traditional and authentic; you’re not. Only two percent of Icelandic households eat whale on a regular basis – and Iceland has a tiny population. As the domestic appetite for whale meat declines, hunting whales continues, to some degree, to simply satisfy tourist demand. By eating it, you are supporting and perpetuating the cruelty of whaling – and no amount of ‘it’s a one off’ or ‘when in Rome’ arguments can justify it.
As well as refusing to eat whale meat, you can avoid restaurants and hotels that serve it by looking out for ‘whale friendly’ stickers. You can also sign the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s petition to end whaling in Iceland.
Do go on a whale watching trip. Visiting Iceland should be about meeting whales, not eating them. Put your tourist dollar behind that most persuasive of conservation arguments – that animals are worth more alive than dead.
In Iceland, this is proving spectacularly true. Whale watching is booming. Around one in five tourists takes a whale watching trip, generating something like £10 million each year for Iceland’s economy. It’s a glorious demonstration of how whale watching is profitable and viable, and is meeting a cultural demand for wildlife interactions and understanding. It’s a vibrant contrast with Icelandic whaling, which looks not only cruel, but anachronistic; a barely defensible albatross around the nation’s neck which doesn’t deliver economically and continues to harm Iceland’s reputation on the world stage.
As well as refusing to eat whale meat, you can avoid restaurants and hotels that serve it by looking out for ‘whale friendly’ stickers. You can also sign the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s petition to end whaling in Iceland.
Do go on a whale watching trip. Visiting Iceland should be about meeting whales, not eating them. Put your tourist dollar behind that most persuasive of conservation arguments – that animals are worth more alive than dead.
In Iceland, this is proving spectacularly true. Whale watching is booming. Around one in five tourists takes a whale watching trip, generating something like £10 million each year for Iceland’s economy. It’s a glorious demonstration of how whale watching is profitable and viable, and is meeting a cultural demand for wildlife interactions and understanding. It’s a vibrant contrast with Icelandic whaling, which looks not only cruel, but anachronistic; a barely defensible albatross around the nation’s neck which doesn’t deliver economically and continues to harm Iceland’s reputation on the world stage.
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