whaling

Whaling, the practice of hunting whales, is currently permitted commercially by only three countries: Iceland, Norway, and Japan. Iceland has recently resumed its whale hunt after a two-year hiatus, drawing protests and international criticism. This comes as Iceland is preparing to submit a bill in February 2027 that could permanently ban whaling in its waters. The move follows intense scrutiny after a 2023 report revealed that harpooned whales in Iceland took up to two hours to die, leading to a temporary suspension of the practice. If Iceland enacts the ban, Norway and Japan would become the sole nations continuing commercial whaling, highlighting a significant global shift away from the controversial practice due to public and animal welfare concerns.