Starting in 2024, Iceland intends to completely abandon whaling. The main reason for the end of whaling is the decrease in demand. According to Fisheries Minister Svandis Svavarsdottir: “There is little evidence that there is any economic benefit to this activity”. According to daily.afisha.ru, demand for whale meat has fallen since Japan returned to commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission (IWC). In addition, due to the expansion of the coastal zone prohibited for fishing, the cost of hunting itself has risen in price.
Currently, in Iceland, annual quotas allow for the hunting of 209 fin whales - the second largest species after the blue whale - and 217 minke whales. Whale hunting is also legal in Japan and Norway.
