In a setback to the whaling industry worldwide, Iceland's fisheries minister has just announced he will not issue further commercial whale-hunting quotas.
An Icelandic whaling company has said it will ignore an international ban on the trade of endangered species, and export its catch to Japan. But it remains unclear if in Japan the demand even exists. The meat will first need to be tested for toxins to see if it's safe for human consumption.
In Iceland, the whale watching industry contributes more to the national economy than commercial whaling did before it was put on hold in the '80s. Yet now, after 17 years, Iceland has officially resumed commercial whaling.
Despite the international ban on whaling, its spectre is looming on the horizon following the Icelandic Government's announcement to start a so-called 'scientific' whaling programme. Join our Iceland Travel Pledge to help stop the program.
