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Whaling in Icelandic waters was conducted intermittently from shore-based stations for over a century from the late 19th century until 1989. From 1948 the whaling operations were limited to one station in Hvalfjordur except for minke whaling. During the period 1948-1985 the average catch was 234 fin whales, 68 sei whales and in the period 1948-1982 also 82 sperm whales. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission's resolution on temporary halt in commercial whaling came into effect. Whaling for scientific purposes under a special permit in accordance with the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling took place in 1986-1989 and in those years a limited number of fin whales and sei whales were caught. Since 2003 the Marine Research Institute of Iceland has carried out a five-year programme for cetacean research which includes the catch of a limited number of minke whales each year. Since the conclusion of the four-year research programme in 1990, cetacean research has involved various activities including: 1) Sightings surveys - in order to monitor population size in connection with management; 2) Research on population structure and behaviour by the aid of photo-identification and skin biopsy sampling; and 3) Feeding ecology and multi-species modelling. Although information is scarce on the feeding ecology of most of the 12 species regularly occurring in Icelandic waters, information on biomass and residence time gives indications of total consumption by cetaceans in Icelandic waters, and possible effects on the yield of commercially important fish species. In October 2006 the Ministry of Fisheries permitted the catch of a limited number of minke whales and fin whales. Click on the following link for the Declaration by the Icelandic Ministry of Fisheries: ICELAND DECIDES TO RESUME SUSTAINABLE WHALING
Sightings surveys indicate that there are around 24,000 fin whales in the East Greenland/Iceland and Jan Mayen stock area (EGI) and 14,000 in the area between Iceland and Greenland. Based on recent assessment by the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO, the Marine Research Institute of Iceland recommends that up to 150 fin whales can be caught in a sustainable manner, provided that the catch be spread within the EGI area in defined proportions. SEI
WHALE Sightings surveys indicate that the sei whale stock in Icelandic and adjacent waters is about 8,800 animals but 9,200 in the North Atlantic as a whole. No recommendations for harvesting have been made, pending further assessment work.
Minke whaling was conducted around Iceland on small motor boats during most of the 20th century. During the period 1975-85 the annual minke whale catch was about 200 animals but no catch has taken place since. In August 2003 a comprehensive
research project on minke whales in Icelandic waters was initiated. This
research is a part of a larger research proposal reviewed by the Scientific
Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in June 2003. In
August 2003, the project involving minke whales was initiated involving a
catch of 37 animals for research purposes and an aerial survey in Icelandic
waters. In 2004, 25 minke whales were caught, 39 animals in 2005 and the plan
is for 50 minke whales to be caught and studied in 2006. According to recent sightings surveys about 43,000 minke whales were found in the Icelandic continental shelf area. Recent assessment by the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO shows that the minke whale fishery in the past decades has had no significant effect on the status of the stock. It is also concluded that an annual harvest of 200 animals for 20 years would maintain the stock above 80% of the pre-exploitation level. The Marine Research Institute recommends that up to 400 minke whales can be caught in a sustainable manner, provided that the catch is spread according to the distribution of minke whales in Icelandic waters. Click here for the website
of the Marine Research Institute Latest update October 2006. |
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