Icelandic whaling vessels set sail again amid renewed environmental controversy

Monday 22 June 2026 - 11:15

Commercial whaling has resumed in Iceland after a two-year pause, with vessels setting sail for a new hunting season that could see nearly 320 cetaceans killed over the coming months, according to local media reports.

The operations involve one of the country’s last remaining whaling companies, Hvalur, whose vessels departed from the port of Reykjavík following preparatory tests of harpoon equipment. The start of the season marks the return of one of the world’s most controversial maritime practices.

The hunting period is expected to run from mid-June to mid-September, a timeframe traditionally used for commercial whaling activities in the North Atlantic. After being suspended in 2024 and 2025 due to economic constraints and limited profitability, the industry has now resumed operations.

The resumption places Iceland back among a small group of nations that still permit commercial whaling, alongside Norway and Japan, despite long-standing international criticism and declining global acceptance of the practice.

Local reports indicate that both vessels departed on Friday evening. In the lead-up to their departure, activists briefly staged a protest at the port of Reykjavík, with one demonstrator climbing onto a ship’s mast before later descending and being escorted by police.

Animal welfare organizations have repeatedly condemned whaling activities, arguing that the practice is incompatible with modern conservation principles and raises serious ethical concerns regarding marine mammal protection. Critics also point to declining demand for whale meat and shifting public attitudes in many parts of the world.

Supporters of the industry, however, argue that whaling remains part of Iceland’s maritime heritage and contributes to certain segments of the local economy, although its economic viability has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years.

The renewed whaling season is expected to intensify the global debate over marine conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources, particularly as international pressure continues to grow for stronger protections for cetacean populations.

Environmental groups are likely to monitor the situation closely over the coming months as the scale of the hunt becomes clearer and its impact on whale populations is assessed.