Whaling has long been intertwined with the history and culture of the Nordic countries. From traditional practices rooted in survival to modern regulatory debates, the topic remains complex and controversial. While most of Europe has abandoned whaling entirely, some Nordic territories continue the practice in specific, often tightly regulated contexts. This article provides a factual overview of the whaling situation in Norway, Iceland, Denmark’s autonomous territories (Faroe Islands and Greenland), and Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic.
Norway
Legal status: Commercial whaling permitted
Species targeted: Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Quota for 2024: 1157 whales (as set by the Norwegian government)
Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993 under an objection to the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) 1986 moratorium. Norwegian whalers are only allowed to hunt minke whales, and all catches must follow strict regulations regarding equipment, reporting, and animal welfare. In recent years, demand for whale meat has declined domestically, and the number of active whaling vessels has dropped. Nonetheless, the Norwegian government continues to defend whaling as a sustainable and traditional industry, especially in Northern Norway.
Iceland
Legal status: Commercial whaling paused, possibly resuming
Species targeted: Minke whale (until 2018), Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Status in 2025: One licensed company, operations cancelled
Iceland also resumed whaling under a reservation to the IWC moratorium. However, due to growing international criticism, local opposition, and shifting international consumer preferences, Iceland’s whaling industry has declined sharply. In 2023, a temporary ban was imposed on whaling due to concerns about animal welfare during hunts. As of 2025, only one company (Hvalur hf.) holds a license, but for the second consecutive year it will not hunt and the future of whaling in Iceland remains uncertain.
Faroe Islands
Legal status: Subsistence whaling allowed
Method: Grindadráp – traditional community-driven pilot whale hunts
Species targeted: Primarily long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas), occasionally dolphins
The Faroe Islands are not part of the IWC and manage their whaling independently. The grindadráp is a deeply rooted tradition, often conducted in fjords and involving the entire community. Whale meat and blubber are distributed freely among locals. Critics point to the graphic nature of the hunts and question their relevance today, especially given health warnings about mercury levels in pilot whale meat. However, Faroese authorities and supporters argue that the hunts are sustainable, non-commercial, and culturally significant.
Greenland
Legal status: Subsistence whaling permitted under IWC quotas
Species targeted: Minke whale, Fin whale, Bowhead whale, Narwhal, Beluga
Purpose: Indigenous subsistence (Kalaallit Inuit)
Greenland, unlike the Faroe Islands, is subject to IWC regulation. It is granted special quotas under the “Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling” category. The practice is meant to meet nutritional and cultural needs of the indigenous population and is not conducted for profit. Whaling in Greenland is tightly regulated, and all meat and by-products must be used locally. In recent years, some international observers have raised concerns about meat entering commercial channels, but Greenlandic authorities maintain the practice is essential to Inuit identity and food security.
Svalbard (Norway)
Legal status: No active whaling
Historical context: Once a center of Arctic whaling (17th–19th centuries)
Today, there is no active whaling around Svalbard. The region is protected under Norwegian and international conservation laws, and many marine species—such as the bowhead whale—are strictly protected. Whales in Svalbard waters are mainly observed during eco-tourism expeditions. The archipelago’s role in whaling today is primarily historical, with museums and interpretive centers recounting the brutal and often dangerous Arctic whaling era of previous centuries.
Whaling in the Nordics is a patchwork of legal frameworks, cultural traditions, and environmental considerations. While Norway and Iceland operate within modified forms of commercial whaling, Greenland and the Faroe Islands emphasize subsistence and tradition-based practices. Svalbard, meanwhile, has shifted entirely toward protection and conservation. The issue remains contentious both domestically and internationally, caught between respect for tradition and calls for global conservation. As climate change and ecological awareness reshape the region, the future of Nordic whaling may evolve further.
