Since it stopped in 2021, an Icelandic company plans to hunt Minke whales once again.

Iceland, Norway and Japan are now the only 3 nations which still hunt whales.

Licenses issued last December were to two companies for the 2025 – 2029 period.

Annual catches of 209 Fin whales and 217 Minke whales could be hunted each year in a season running from mid June until September.

In 2018 six 6 Minke were hunted, and in 2021 one 1 Minke was hunted.

Icelandic whalers have not hunted Minke recently as it is not considered profitable.

But now the Tjaldtanji company said it intended to give it a try this summer – 2025.

They intend to hunt off northwest Iceland.

Iceland’s only other active Hvular, which only hunts fin whales, said in April it would not hunt for a second year because of a lack of profitability.

Animal rights activists, along with the Icelandic tourism industry, have both condemned the proposals.

The Icelandic Whale Watching Association recently proposed that some of the hunting grounds be defined as whale sanctuaries.

Whalers said that there is excitement amongst locals to get Minke meat in this summer.

WAV Comment – we suggest that there is a lot more incentive to business in the area by undertaking whale watching; combined with education and souvenirs; rather than the murder of these beautiful, intelligent creatures. Humankind could learn a lot from them if given the chance.