Whaling in Iceland began with spear-drift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices. Today, Iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object[clarification needed] to an ongoing moratorium established by the International Whaling Commission in 1986,[1][2] and that still maintain a whaling fleet. One company (Hvalur hf.) remains concentrated on hunting fin whales, largely for export to Japan, while the only other one previously hunted minke whales for domestic consumption until 2020, as the meat was popular with tourists.[3][4] In 2018, Hvalur hf whalers killed a rare blue whale/fin whale hybrid.[5]
Whaling was temporarily paused in Iceland between 2019 and 2021 as coronavirus restrictions, competition from subsidized Japanese whaling and increasing domestic whale watching tourism have hampered the industry, however the practice was resumed in June of 2022.
Iceland has a whale watching sector, which exists in tension with the whaling industry.[6]
- ^ "History of Whaling". The Húsavík Whale Museum. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ "Modern Whaling". The Húsavík Whale Museum. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ^ Boffey, Daniel (18 April 2018). "Iceland sets target of 191 kills as country resumes whaling". the Guardian. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ Allen, Liz (1 May 2020). "Iceland's Hunt For Minke Whales Has Officially Ended". Forbes. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ Whale killing: DNA shows Iceland whale was rare hybrid
- ^ Marianne Rasmussen. "7". Whale Watching: Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Management. Cambridge University Press.