Iceland and the International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Beginning in 1990, Iceland abided by the IWC moratorium on commercial whaling. Unlike Norway, Iceland did not take a reservation against the IWC moratorium, which came into force in 1986. Between 1986 and 1989 around 60-80 Fin Whales and a smaller number of Sei Whales (both listed as Endangered) were taken each year under a scientific permit. However, under strong pressure from anti-whaling countries, viewing scientific whaling as a circumvention of the moratorium, Iceland ceased whaling altogether in 1989. However, following the 1991 refusal of the IWC to accept its Scientific Committee's recommendation to allow sustainable commercial whaling, Iceland left the IWC in 1992.

Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002 with a reservation to the moratorium. This reservation is not recognized by a number of anti-whaling countries. The issue is a fine point of international law. Countries are allowed to take reservations to international treaties or agreements, in which they simply state that they disagree with a particular point and refuse to abide by it. However, the reservation must be lodged as the international treaty, or in this case moratorium, comes into effect. From 1986 to 1991 Iceland did not state a reservation to the moratorium. After leaving the IWC, it then rejoined with a reservation, taking the position that the departure and re-entry had "reset" its international obligations under the IWC and that it could take a reservation, as if it were the first time it was affected by the moratorium. Opponents of whaling argue that legal reservations do not work this way and that Iceland cannot take a reservation once it has accepted it.As a requisite for readmission to the IWC, Iceland had also pledged to wait until 2006 before resuming commercial whaling.

In 2003, Iceland resumed scientific whaling. Iceland presented a feasibility study to the 2003 IWC meeting to take 100 Minke, 100 Fin, and 50 Sei in each of 2003 and 2004. The primary aim of the study was to deepen the understanding of fish-whale interactions; the strongest advocates for a resumed hunt are fisherman concerned that whales are taking too many fish. The hunt was supported by three-quarters of the Icelandic population. Amid concern from the IWC Scientific Committee about the value of the research and its relevance to IWC objectives, no decision on the proposal was reached. However under the terms of the convention the Icelandic government issued permits for a scientific catch. In 2003, Iceland took 36 minke whales from a quota of 38. In 2004, it took 25 whales (the full quota). In 2005, the government issued a permit for a third year, allowing whalers to take up to 39 whales. As with other countries' scientific whaling claims, Iceland's was disputed widely by environmental non-governmental organizations.


Resumed commercial whaling in 2006

In October 2006, the Icelandic government issued licenses for a commercial whale hunt in addition to the continuing scientific program. Iceland had pledged not to resume commercial whaling until 2006 when presumably talks about sustainable whaling would be completed. The talks had not come to a resolution thereafter, and are instead stalling due to the differences between those who want to resume whaling and those who do not.

Over the twelve-month period ending in August 2007, Icelandic whalers have been authorized by the Icelandic government to hunt and sell 30 Minke and 9 Fin Whales. Iceland resumed commercial whaling on 21 October 2006 after Icelandic whalers caught a Fin Whale. 25 nations delivered a formal diplomatic protest (called a "demrche") to the Icelandic government on 1 November 2006 concerning resumed commercial whaling. The protest was led by the UK and signed by nations including the USA, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Finland and Sweden.

The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) currently lists all the great whales on its Appendix I, under which the international trade in whale products is prohibited. Japan and Iceland are both lobbying aggressively, to downlist whales from Appendix I to Appendix II, thereby reopening trade. The Icelandic government just recently got caught out trading whale meat to Japan, even though such trade is prohibited under CITES.

A resumption of international trade in whale products would have dire implications. Pirate whalers will have an even greater incentive to hunt whales covertly, as it will become easier for them to smuggle illegal whale meat into Japan. Even with the current trade ban in place, illegal whale meat from both abundant and endangered species of whales is regularly discovered on sale in Japan.


Commercial whaling in 2008 and 2009

After a brief suspension of whaling activities, commercial hunting resumed in May 2008, when a new license was granted. The head of the Icelandic minke whaling association was hoping for a quota of around 100 minkies in 2008. However these number were not met.

In 2009 the Iceland Government issued the largest quota in the last 5 year of 100 Minke and 150 endangered Fin whales. It was issued by the Enviromental Minister before his party lost the seat for Governemnt. "This is basically an act of sabotage, an act of bitterness, against the incoming government," said Arni Finnsson from the Iceland Nature Conservation Association (INCA). Despite facing international backlash over the decision, the newly elected government allowed the proposed quotas through. The whaling operation offically started during the first week of June 2009.


Actual Kills by Iceland from 1986 onwards