Iceland to propose whaling ban, leaving Norway and Japan isolated
PUBLISHED Sep 10, 2026, 12:50 PM ET
Icelandic government officials announced plans to submit a parliamentary bill in February to enact a permanent ban on commercial whaling. If approved, the legislative measure would leave Norway and Japan as the only nations globally to continue commercial whaling operations. The announcement follows decades of international opposition and environmental pressure regarding the hunting of vulnerable fin whale populations. In the recent hunting season running from June through September, authorities recorded 80 fin whales caught under a national quota permitting up to 150 kills. Officials indicated strong domestic and political support for the upcoming legislation, despite a five-year operating license having been issued to the country's sole remaining whaling company in 2024. The International Whaling Commission established a global commercial moratorium in 1986, though Iceland resumed commercial hunts in 2006. The proposed ban marks a significant shift in marine conservation policy across the North Atlantic region.
By Ayesha A. | JQJO News
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Reuters published report on Iceland government proposing commercial whaling ban. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/iceland-propose-whaling-ban-leaving-norway-japan-isolated-2025-09-10/
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