ICELAND WHALING SEASON ENDS. 93 FIN WHALES KILLED THIS YEAR
Iceland’s commercial whaling season has come to an end. The company Hvalur killed 93 fin whales during the 94-day season. Its vessels are now returning to Reykjavík, and it is possible they may never sail out to hunt whales again next year.
The season ended earlier than originally expected, mainly because of an unfavorable weather forecast for the coming days. According to Hvalur CEO Kristján Loftsson, weather conditions also significantly disrupted hunting throughout the season.
The vessels, for example, spent around 25 days in Hvalfjörður waiting for better conditions.
This year’s quota allowed Hvalur to hunt up to 150 fin whales. The company fell well short of that limit. By comparison, 146 fin whales were killed in 2018 and 148 in 2022.
Kristján Loftsson
83 years old, he has been involved in whaling since he was 13.
He has headed Hvalur since 1974, taking over the company founded by his father.
He runs Iceland’s last active commercial whaling company.
This year, he came up with a plan to turn whale meat into iron supplements.
The vessels are heading back to Reykjavík
Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9 have already arrived in Reykjavík and will be moored at Ægisgarður until next summer. In Hvalfjörður, workers are still processing the last whales caught this season and clearing away the whaling equipment.
This year’s season was significant simply because commercial whaling returned. After a two-year break, Iceland’s commercial whaling industry resumed operations in June. The authorized quota was 150 fin whales and 168 minke whales.
Was this the final Iceland whaling season?
That is now the biggest question. The Icelandic government has announced that it will submit a bill to parliament in February 2027 proposing changes to the country’s whaling legislation. Minister of Industry and Commerce Hanna Katrín Friðriksson has already said the proposal will include a provision aimed at banning commercial whaling.
The Icelandic government now faces a decision that could fundamentally change the future of one of the country’s most controversial industries. If parliament approves the ban, this year’s 93 fin whales could become the final catch in Iceland’s commercial whaling history.
It is too early, however, to speak of a definitive end. The bill has yet to be drafted, and its final form and fate will be decided by Iceland’s parliament.
Whaling continues despite the quota going unfilled
Icelandic whalers primarily target fin whales, which are among the largest animals on Earth. This year’s scientific advice for Iceland set the maximum sustainable catch at 150 animals.
Hvalur is currently Iceland’s only company engaged in commercial whaling. Its vessels primarily hunt in waters southwest of Iceland, while the catch is processed at the company’s station in Hvalfjörður.
This year’s season therefore ended well below the permitted quota. As Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9 head back to port, a political debate is already taking shape in Iceland that could determine whether the vessels will sail out to sea again next year.
About the Author
Iceland has fascinated me for many years. Over the course of numerous journeys across the island, I have driven tens of thousands of kilometers, experienced storms that changed travel plans within minutes, and witnessed days when choosing the right route meant discovering places that most visitors never see. I documented many of these experiences in my documentary film Island in the North.
Through this website, I share practical travel advice, up-to-date information, and firsthand experiences from the field to help others explore Iceland more safely and gain a deeper understanding of its unique landscapes and ever-changing nature.
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