Image description: A fin whale and its calf swimming in the open ocean.

Iceland’s only active whaling company, Hvalur hf., announced it will not be operating this summer, marking the second consecutive year without a hunting season.

According to reports, the company cited ongoing global economic pressures and declining demand for whale meat as the main reasons for the cancellation.

Last year, no whales were caught due to a delayed permit. This year, despite having a 5-year licence, they have decided to keep the boats docked.

Public support for commercial whaling in Iceland has also been falling for years. A 2024 poll conducted by Maskína for the Iceland Nature Conservation Association found that more Icelanders believe whaling harms the country’s image abroad than helps it, cited by Evrim Ağacı. 

Paul Watson arrest warrant suspended 

Paul Watson, founder of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd, was also recently notified by Interpol that a wanted notice against him for allegedly obstructing Japan’s research activities had been suspended, according to his organisation.

The group said Tuesday that the global police agency called the Japanese arrest warrant politically motivated in citing reasons for provisionally lifting the notice. A final decision on its status is expected sometime in June or later. Watson is scheduled to give a speech at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which is slated to be held in Nice, southern France, also in June.