Licences for hunting of fin whales and minke whales issued

The Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has issued licences to the companies Hvalur hf. and Tjaldtangi for the hunting of fin and minke whales respectively. The licences will be valid for a total of five years and will be extended for a year annually. 

The limited quotas shall be in accordance with the advice issued by the Marine Research Institute, based on the assessment of the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Council (NAMMCO). Only fin whales and minke whales are permitted to be caught, while other whale populations are protected.  

The licences are subject to strict regulations, including rigorous requirements for equipment, training and meticulous monitoring by Iceland's Food and Veterinary authority and the Directorate of Fisheries.