Iceland Moves Toward Potential Permanent Ban On Commercial Whaling
Iceland could be moving closer to ending commercial whaling after the government announced plans to introduce a new bill in February 2027 that could permanently prohibit hunting whales in the country.
The proposal is included in Iceland’s legislative agenda for the 2026–2027 parliamentary session and would overhaul the country’s decades-old whaling law. As part of that process, lawmakers are expected to consider whether commercial whaling should be permanently banned.
The planned legislation follows a government review of Iceland’s current whaling laws and regulations. Officials have previously acknowledged that the existing legal framework, which dates back to 1949, needs to be updated.
The announcement comes while Iceland’s 2026 commercial whaling season is still underway.
According to Humane World for Animals, 80 adult fin whales had been killed as of September 9. The organization also reported that at least seven unborn calves were found inside pregnant whales killed during this year’s hunt.
Fin whales are the second-largest whale species on the planet and have long been targeted by Iceland’s commercial whaling industry.
Serious animal-welfare concerns surrounding Iceland’s whale hunts have also been documented by the country’s own authorities.
An investigation by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority into the 2022 fin-whale hunt found that some whales endured prolonged deaths after being struck by explosive harpoons.
Of 58 whales monitored during the investigation, nearly one-quarter had to be shot more than once. Two whales were shot four times, while one reportedly took close to an hour to die and another survived for approximately two hours after first being struck.
The findings raised significant concerns about whether the hunts could meet Iceland’s animal-welfare standards.
Humane World for Animals welcomed the government’s latest announcement.
“This is a really significant milestone in efforts to consign to history Iceland’s cruel and needless whale hunts,” said Wendy Higgins of Humane World for Animals.
Commercial whaling has been subject to an international moratorium through the International Whaling Commission since 1986. Iceland later resumed commercial whaling after rejoining the commission with a formal reservation to the moratorium.
In December 2024, Iceland issued five-year permits allowing the commercial hunting of fin and minke whales. Those permits remain in place, meaning whales can continue to be killed unless the law changes or the permits are otherwise restricted.
If Iceland ultimately approves a permanent ban, it would mark a historic turning point for whale protection in the country and end decades of commercial whale hunting.
With dozens of fin whales already killed during the 2026 season, animal advocates are urging Iceland’s government and Parliament to act swiftly to permanently end commercial whaling.
World Animal News will continue to follow this critical developing news.
