Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching
Bottlenose dolphins breaching

Landmark report reveals UK wildlife’s devastating decline

With whales and dolphins already facing many threats, a landmark report released this week reveals...
Dolphins with oil rig

Go ahead for new UK oil and gas exploration threatens whales and dolphins

Permission has been granted for the development of the UK's biggest untapped oilfield off Shetland,...
Icelandic hunting vessels in port

Whaling boat kept in port after more hunt cruelty exposed

Icelandic whale hunting fleet One of the whaling boats involved in the latest hunts in...
Commerson's dolphin

New Important Marine Mammal Areas added to global ocean conservation list

Commerson's dolphin Experts from a number of countries have mapped out a new set of...

Icelandic whalers kill first fin whales in four years

FIn whale being processed after hunt

As feared, whale hunters in Iceland have slaughtered at least two fin whales, the first to be killed in four years.

Hopes remain that the cruel practice will end in 2023 after the country’s Fisheries Minister, Svandís Svavarsdóttir cast doubt over its future a few weeks ago, saying that there is now little justification for authorizing whaling.

However, Hvalur hf, Iceland's only fin whaling company (owned by multi-millionaire, Kristjan Loftsson) has begun the hunts in spite of the minister’s warning, and more whales look set to die.

The last hunts in Icelandic waters, back in 2018, saw 146 fin whales killed, including at least two rare blue whale/fin whale hybrids and a dozen pregnant females. Since 2006 alone, Hvalur has slaughtered 852 fin whales - the second largest creature on our planet and listed by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) as 'vulnerable'.

Minister Svavarsdóttir has also stated that whaling has damaged Iceland's reputation and negatively affected exports. Her concerns were immediately echoed by Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, executive director of the Icelandic Tourist Board, who commented: ‘It is well-known that the tourism industry believes that whaling damages the image of Iceland as a tourist destination.’

This view was echoed in a recent survey of Icelandic people, in which the vast majority questioned believe whaling damages Iceland's reputation.

Vanessa Williams-Grey, who leads our campaign to end whaling in Iceland, commented: ‘It is astounding - as well as utterly despicable - that an aging millionaire continues to hunt fin whales as a hobby, given the lack of demand for fin whale meat both at home and abroad.

‘The slaughter of these gentle giants is all the more senseless, given our increasing knowledge about the important role whales play in our ocean and in helping to fight climate breakdown. One fin whale, during a lifetime, will store in his or her body and via whale falls, the same amount of carbon as 483 trees.’

PLEASE DONATE  - HELP US STOP  WHALING FOR GOOD

Related News

Pilot whale

How we need to support Faroese communities to end the whale and dolphin hunts

Hayley Flanagan Hayley is WDC's engagement officer, specializing in creating brilliant content for our website and publications. VIEW ALL HAYLEY'S BLOGS Visit author's linkedin profile...
Bottlenose dolphins breaching

Landmark report reveals UK wildlife’s devastating decline

With whales and dolphins already facing many threats, a landmark report released this week reveals the true extent of UK wildlife's devastating decline. The world-leading...
Dolphins with oil rig

Go ahead for new UK oil and gas exploration threatens whales and dolphins

Permission has been granted for the development of the UK's biggest untapped oilfield off Shetland, a decision which will exacerbate the climate crisis and result...
Hope the inflatable whale

Meet a whale called Hope

Kidzone - quick links Fun Facts Curious kids Blogs Fantastic fundraisers Gallery Splish and Splash Puzzles Hope is WDC's brand new life-sized inflatable humpback whale....

2 Comments

  1. Eunice Johnston on 27th June 2022 at 7:18 pm

    Stop killing these beautiful animals. You have no right over them whatsoever.

  2. Claire Daniel on 28th June 2022 at 6:17 am

    Whales and dolphins are beautiful animals, they are important to the Earth. Far more important then most people realise. We need to protect them for the many generations.

Leave a Comment