Rough seas hamper Icelandic whale hunt as 61 fin whales caught

Unfavourable weather has disrupted Iceland’s whale hunt, with 61 fin whales caught so far this season, mbl.is reports. Both whaling vessels, Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9, are currently at sea, and the forecast is favourable for the coming days.

Kristján Loftsson, chief executive of Hvalur hf., told Morgunblaðið that rough seas in recent weeks and fog in the whaling grounds had hindered operations.

The company plans to hunt for 100 days this summer, as has generally been the practice, Loftsson said. The hunt will continue until September 25 and could last longer if whales remain in the area. He said there had been examples of whaling continuing into October when weather conditions allowed.

Loftsson said he saw no possibility that the current government would seek an exemption from the European Union’s ban on whaling if voters approved restarting membership negotiations with the bloc in a referendum.

“This government would not fight for it, I am convinced of that,” he said, adding that whaling would therefore end in Iceland, causing losses for the company and its employees.

Loftsson also said he believed the European Union, which he said had opposed whaling since 1973, would not change its position or grant permanent exemptions from its regulations.