Iceland could allow commercial fin whale hunting again in 2026, even though the government says it plans to introduce legislation later this year to end whaling.
Whaling company Hvalur hf. has signalled that it wants to hunt fin whales this year. That would mark a major reversal after two seasons without a hunt. Iceland is one of only a few countries that still allows commercial whaling, alongside Norway and Japan.
Hvalur did not hunt in 2025 after cancelling its season. It also did not carry out a hunt in 2024 despite having a licence. Campaigners say Iceland should not allow whales to be killed now if the government intends to ban the practice.
Fin whales are the second-largest animals on Earth and are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The debate has also been shaped by animal welfare concerns. In 2023, Iceland temporarily suspended fin whale hunting after an official review found that some whales took too long to die after being harpooned.
Hunting later resumed under stricter rules, but the findings intensified criticism from animal protection groups.
The final decision appears to rest with Minister of Industries Hanna Katrín Friðriksson.