Iceland will not hunt whales this summer, following the decision of Hvalur HF, and the only decision in the country approved to hunt species this summer. CEO Kristján Loftsson, a leading figure in Iceland’s whaling industry for over 50 years, confirmed the halt of operations for the 2025 season due to economic challenges, including declining demand in Japan.
“There’s no hunting this season,” Loftson told the Icelandic newspaper. Morgunbladid Early this month. He cited the poor price in Japan. This is because they have realized that the main export market for whale meat in Iceland is an outdated “tradition” that does not benefit human health or the ocean, along with rising costs of transportation and storage!
Loftson, now in the early 1980s, has been managing Hvalur since the 1970s. Founded by his father, the company has long dominated Iceland’s commercial whaling industry. This is the second year in a row that has chosen not to hunt fin whales. Despite the suspension, the Icelandic government approved the new allocation in late 2024, allowing up to 209 fin whales and 217 fin whales by 2028.
In 2023, the whaling season was temporarily suspended by the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Svalvarzdotti after government commissioned reports discovered that hunting methods often caused long-term suffering. The ban was later lifted, but the incident strengthened public debate and introduced stricter welfare oversights. The Environmental Group has carefully welcomed the latest developments. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) called the decision a “positive step,” but emphasized that it is driven by economics rather than policy.
The second company, Tjaldtangi Ehf. still holds a license to hunt minke whales, but has not done so since 2021. As of late June, it had not been announced this year.
Public opinion in Iceland is increasingly opposed to commercial whaling. A 2023 survey by the company showed that a majority (especially among the younger generations) were opposed to the practice. Whale watching has grown into a major sector of Icelandic tourism industry, boosting the argument that live whales offer longer-term value than hunted ones. Whales will not be killed this season, but commercial whaling is legal in Iceland. Conservationists continue to seek a permanent end to decisions the government has not yet taken.
