Whaling resumes in Iceland: first two fin whales killed | outside

Two boats belonging to Hvalur Yachting Company, the last whaling company in the country, killed a fin whale on Thursday. The boats are expected to arrive at the port with their catch on Friday, the public broadcaster RUV reported.

Iceland, Norway and Japan are the last countries to allow whaling. The Reykjavik government suspended the controversial poaching for two months in June after publishing a report that found the practice violated animal welfare laws. The killing took a long time.

Despite protests from animal rights activists, the government last week gave the go-ahead for the new season to start. The government has set stricter requirements for gear and fishing methods and has promised more oversight. This did not prevent the activists from holding the Hvalur boats for several days.

Whalers have been hunting below their quota for years as demand for whale meat plummets. Public opinion is also evolving. According to a poll by the Maskina Institute, 51 percent of Icelanders now oppose whaling, compared to 42 percent four years ago. The hunting season ends between late September and early October.