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Iceland to introduce 2027 bill banning commercial whaling

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 3:53 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Iceland Bans Whaling

Iceland's government will submit a bill in February 2027 to permanently ban commercial whaling.
The governing coalition holds a parliamentary majority, making the bill’s passage likely.
Iceland’s 2026 quota allows up to 150 fin whales, with 80 already killed by September 8.
Up to 70 more fin whales could be killed before the quota ends.
Hvalur hf, owned by entrepreneur Kristján Loftsson, is Iceland’s sole commercial whaling company.

Summary

Whalers Target Minke

Humane World for Animals reports the 2026 season’s primary target is common minke whales.
Iceland resumed whaling in 2006, ignoring the IWC’s 1986 zero-catch moratorium.
Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993, becoming the only other nation besides Iceland to hunt whales after the moratorium.
Japan left the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and restarted commercial whaling within its territorial waters.

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Iceland Bans Whaling

Iceland's government will submit a bill in February 2027 to permanently ban commercial whaling.
The governing coalition holds a parliamentary majority, making the bill’s passage likely.
Iceland’s 2026 quota allows up to 150 fin whales, with 80 already killed by September 8.
Up to 70 more fin whales could be killed before the quota ends.
Hvalur hf, owned by entrepreneur Kristján Loftsson, is Iceland’s sole commercial whaling company.

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