Iceland Announces End to Whaling

By Emma Hynek

In March 2022, Iceland announced an end to the country’s long standing whaling tradition, citing a lack of interest and profit as the reasoning behind the decision. However, once it takes effect in 2024, the impacts will extend far beyond financial. Though not often considered, whales play a critical role in the ocean’s ecosystem, and there is increasing evidence that cetaceans possess high levels of intelligence and sentience. With the end to Iceland’s whale hunting industry nearing, we hope to see further protection and recovery of whale populations.

Whaling History

National Geographic writes that whaling dates back to the 1600s and was a practice that could be found in Iceland, Norway, Japan, and America. Whaling in the United States was banned in 1971, and this year, Iceland announced its plans to allow current whale hunting quotas to expire in 2024, effectively ending the whaling practice in Iceland, and leaving Norway and Japan as the only two countries where whaling is still legal.

BBC reported on Iceland’s decision to ban whaling, saying, "Why should Iceland take the risk of keeping up whaling, which has not brought any economic gain, in order to sell a product for which there is hardly any demand?" Svandis Svavarsdottir wrote on Friday in the Morgunbladid newspaper.”

In 1982, the International Whaling Commission announced a moratorium on whaling, a decision that has helped protect whales to this day. Though whaling still occurs  in Norway and Japan, the moratorium allowed previously hunted whale populations to recover, writes National Geographic. In recent years, as a result of increasing evidence of whale intelligence and sentience, many have pushed for further protections and even the recognition of whales as having legal rights. 

 Why Is Protecting Whales Important?

According to Whale and Dolphin Conservation, “Whales play a vital role in the marine ecosystem where they help provide at least half of the oxygen you breathe, combat climate change, and sustain fish stocks. How do they do it? By providing nutrients to phytoplankton.” These nutrients, specifically iron, nitrogen, and phosphorus, are dispersed through their fecal plumes.

Despite their importance, they still face many threats to their existence. In addition to hunting, “…industrial fishing, ship strikes, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change are creating a hazardous and sometimes fatal obstacle course for the marine species,” states the World Wide Fund for Nature. 

Whaling has also caused whale populations to decrease immensely. This World Economic Forum article details the number of whale species that have been reduced to near extinction through whaling. When whale numbers decline, so does the overall health of the ocean. However, the article also reiterates that the IWC’s moratorium helped to bring whale populations to a healthier number, citing the gray whale as an example of the 1986 moratorium’s success. “The moratorium was largely successful, with the population of Western gray whales increasing from 115 individuals in 2004 to 174 in 2015. The WSA humpback whale, which numbered fewer than 1,000 for nearly 40 years, has recovered to close to 25,000, according to the latest study.”

The Helsinki Group, based in Helsinki, Finland, released a declaration in 2010 calling for the rights of cetaceans to be recognized. The Helsinki Group is just one of many organizations that are dedicated to granting rights to cetaceans. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has pushed for cetacean rights to be recognized, as have Sonar and ELC.

Next Steps

While there is still work to be done, it is encouraging that a previous ban on whaling created a positive impact. With legal rights for cetaceans not yet in place and whaling set to end in Iceland, now is the time to reinvigorate the fight for the rights of whales and all cetaceans. Earth Law Center has worked for several years to lead initiatives around the world to protect these intelligent, vital creatures, including the Southern Resident Orca campaign, which is a campaign for state recognition of the Southern Resident’s inherent rights to life, which includes the right to life, autonomy, free and safe passage, adequate food supply from naturally occurring sources, and to be free from conditions causing physical, emotional, or mental harm, including a habitat degraded by noise, pollution and contamination.

"If humans are to survive we must re-remember our kinship with Nature and our non-human relatives. This will undoubtedly require changes in the way we do business; opening space for innovations so that we can have a future with clean rivers, ocean and seas, and healthy habitats for humans, animals and plants alike." says Elizabeth Dunne, Director of Legal Advocacy at Earth Law Center.

 ELC’s very own Michelle Bender has also written an e-book on Ocean Rights, which can be found here. We urge you to join our mission to protect the rights of the ocean and the creatures it houses! 

 How You Can Help

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