Excellent news fromIceland. For the second consecutive yearin fact, the Balene hunting season. It is a decision that reflects the growing impact of economic difficulties global on a practice for years at the center of Aspre controversy international. To communicate the suspension of the activities was Hvalur hf.the largest Icelandic woker company, which for this season had authorization a hunt 200 Balenottere.
The company of the company, Kristján Loftsson, explained that the decision is linked to the current economic crisis, in particular to the situation of the Japanese marketthe main destination of the products derived from hunting. Due to the price collapse and of thegrowing inflationthe activity has become unsustainable. Loftsson said that “sales prices are so low that it makes no sense to proceed with the hunt”. The company plans to re -evaluate the situation in 2026.
An activity more and more in decline
Also in 2024 Hvalur hf. he had renounced hunting, in that case because of the delay in the issue of the permit Government, released at the last minute by the Minister of Agriculture Svandís Svavarsdóttir, exponent of the Green Left. A move interpreted by many as politically motivated, which in fact prevented the company from planning operations in time.
There whale hunt remains a deeply practice controversial and divisive in Icelandic society. Although it is still legal, public opinion is more and more split among those who defend their cultural roots and those who consider it now obsolete It is harmful to the image of the country. The typical fighter season extends from June to Septemberbut for years the companies have struggled to reach the authorized shares.
Today alone three countries in the world continue to legally practice the Commercial hunt for whales: Iceland, Norway And Japan. But also in Iceland the number of active companies is falling: the IP-Urged, the second company in the sector, closed its doors in 2020 due to the crisis linked to pandemic and the decrease in whale meat demand. Signals of decline that, hopefully, will bring in the short term a finally end to this abominable practice.
