Feelings of devastation, outrage, and disgust have poured forth from the marine conservation and animal welfare sectors this week as the Icelandic government issues new permits to allow the hunting and killing of up to 426 whales a year for the next five years.

Under the new permits – which have been branded a “disgrace” and an “abuse of power” by those opposed to the issuance of the new ‘kill licences’ – up to 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can now be caught and killed during each year’s whaling season.

Animal rights and environmental groups have denounced the move by Iceland’s outgoing conservative government. It had been hoped that calls for an intervention from Iceland’s president, Halla Tómasdóttir might have been enough to stop the issuance of fresh whaling licences before the country’s interim government left office.

It was the concern of many that Iceland’s ruling Independence Party – a party made up of pro-whaling politicians – would rush through the issuance of the new whaling licences before relinquishing leadership to an incoming party following the country’s general election. While the Independent Party lost out to the centre-left Social Democratic Alliance in a snap election on Saturday, it so transpires that this is precisely what the outgoing party has done.

An official note for the permits said the licences ensured “some predictability” for the industry, while limits to the number of whales that can be hunted had been set based on advice.

“We are devastated and outraged,” read a statement from the marine life welfare charity, Whales and Dolphins Conservation. “Iceland, a country admired by so many for its progressive ideals, has taken an enormous step backward. Bjarni Benediktsson, the caretaker prime minister, has granted licences to slaughter 201 fin whales and 217 minke whales over the next five years; a move so deeply rooted in corruption and disregard for global conservation efforts that it leaves us disgusted.”

Iceland is one of only three countries in the world that still allows whaling – where whales are hunted for their meat, blubber, and oil – joining Japan and Norway. Only fin and minke whales are allowed to be hunted off Iceland, while other whale populations are protected.

There is currently one remaining whaling company in Europe, the Icelandic millionaire-owned Hvalur. Last month, Hvalur applied for an indefinite whaling licence or – failing this – a licence that would be valid for five to 10 years which would be automatically extended by one year at a time at the end of each operating year.

In 2023, whaling was suspended in Iceland for two months after a government-commissioned inquiry concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws. Monitoring by the government’s veterinary agency showed that explosive harpoons were causing whales prolonged agony.

“This decision is not just an insult to the whales who will suffer but to the majority of Icelanders who oppose whaling and have been betrayed by a government with no mandate to make such a divisive and damaging decision,” said Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

A poll taken in 2023 by Maskina found that 51% of Icelanders are opposed to whaling, marking a significant increase in numbers since 2019, when only 42% voted against it.  

Conservation groups also argue that the “economic case for whaling is non-existent”. In fact, the whaling company, Hvalfur has operated at a loss “for years”, while whale meat exports to Japan – a dwindling market – have stagnated, with 2,000 tonnes of unsold Icelandic whale meat sitting in Japanese freezers. 

Commercial whaling in Iceland only started as recently as 1948.

A notice from the Icelandic government said the total allowable catch permitted in this new issuance of whaling licences follows advice from the Norwegian Fisheries Agency, “which is based on sustainable use and a precautionary approach.”

But conservation groups have argued that the argument of sustainable utilisation is merely a “smokescreen”.

“These whales do not belong to Iceland, or anyone,” said WDC. “Whales are important to marine ecosystems and climate resilience, with their role as climate giants in supporting ocean health well documented. Yet, this decision reduces them to mere commodities for profit that, ironically, doesn’t even exist.”

The Icelandic Nature Conservation Association and Young Environmentalists group, Landvernd have added their name to a growing list of those that stand outraged at the decision of the outgoing government to issue the new licences. 

“[We express our] surprise and disapproval of the issuance of whaling licences by the management,” read a translated statement issued by the group. “This shows no respect for democracy and the issuance of the licence goes against the interests of the climate, nature, and animal welfare.”

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