REYKJAVÍK, Iceland ― More than 630,000 American tourists who visit Iceland each year are being urged by Humane World for Animals and Icelandic charities not to eat whale meat on vacation in Iceland but instead to appreciate whales alive and wild at sea. Most Icelanders do not eat whale meat, and the vast majority is consumed by the 2.3 million foreign tourists who visit Iceland each year.
The “For the Love of Iceland” campaign by the Iceland-based Hvalavinir (Whale Friends) and Humane World for Animals, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, aims to save whales by persuading visitors to enjoy whales via ethical tourism and not dead on their plate. Tourists are asked to take the #fortheloveoficeland pledge to show their support.
The United States accounts for the largest percentage of foreign visitors to Iceland. Whale meat is misleadingly marketed to tourists as an Icelandic delicacy even though less than 2% of Icelanders eat it.
Hvalavinir has placed #fortheloveoficeland pledge cards at hotels and tourist information centers across Iceland, and created a virtual online pledge, warning travelers that eating whale meat is not Icelandic culture and urging them to respect and protect Iceland’s wildlife by refusing to eat it or frequent restaurants that serve it.
Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals, said: “Six times as many foreign tourists visit Iceland than the population of the entire country, with U.S. travelers leading the pack. Whale consumption is rejected by the vast majority of Icelanders and is certainly not an authentic part of the Icelandic experience. It is cruel and senseless, and tourists have the choice either to condemn whales by eating them or save them by viewing them in their natural habitat. Our message to American tourists is clear – help save these beautiful, majestic animals and leave endangered wildlife off your plate.”
Iceland, Norway and Japan are the only countries in the world to continue commercial killing of whales. Last year, whaling permits were issued to kill up to 2,130 whales in Iceland over five years—209 endangered fin whales and 217 minke whales each year for 2025-2029—despite clear evidence that some whales killed in Icelandic hunts had prolonged deaths, in contravention of Iceland’s Animal Welfare Act.
Valgerður Árnadóttir from Hvalavinir Whale Friends, said: “Iceland is famous for its breathtaking wild landscapes and amazing wildlife. Killing whales is not part of Icelandic culture; in fact, it wasn’t until 1948 that Iceland had its first whaling company. Our culture is truly rooted in respecting and protecting whales and the ocean. So, together with Humane World for Animals we urge foreign visitors, instead of eating whale meat, to come and have a truly authentic Icelandic experience by marveling at the beauty of whales and watching them at sea in their natural habitat. There are plenty of ethically responsible whale watching excursions that allow you to witness the beauty of whales alive and free in the sea.”
Icelandic foreign tourism data for 2024 - 2025 shows that the top 10 countries to visit (in order) are: U.S., UK, Germany, China, Poland, France, Italy, Canada, Spain and the Netherlands.
U.S. tourists can take the #fortheloveoficeland pledge here as well as in person when in Iceland by following these simple steps:
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Pick up a #fortheloveoficeland pledge card at hotels or tourist information centers.
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Hold the pledge card up at your favorite Icelandic view and whale-friendly experiences.
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Take a photo and post on social media tagging @Hvalavinir, @HumaneWorldForAnimals, #ForTheLoveOfIceland, #WildlifeFriendlyIceland.
Whaling facts
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In the past, Japan was the biggest consumer of Icelandic whale meat through importation, but this trade has ceased because Japan has a whale meat stockpile due to lack of local appetite. It has also expanded its own whaling.
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Most of the fin whale meat currently sold at Iceland’s tourist restaurants comes from whales who have been killed by Norway, although Iceland has killed more than 1,500 whales itself over the past 23 years.
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In 2024, a caretaker government granted a fin whale and a minke whale licence right before Iceland’s general election. Although the government subsequently voted into office is far less supportive of whaling, by law it cannot withdraw those licenses.
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Recent polling in 2025 indicates that 51% of Icelanders are dissatisfied with the whale hunting permits issued by the caretaker government.
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Iceland left the International Whaling Commission in 1992 but rejoined in 2002 under a 'reservation’ or exception to the global moratorium on commercial whaling. It has continued to defy the ban ever since, undermining both the IWC and CITES, which restricts the commercial trade in whale products. Since re-joining the IWC, Iceland has killed more than 1,500 whales, including endangered fin whales. In 2018, among the 146 fin whales Iceland killed was a pregnant female and a rare fin-blue hybrid whale; six minke whales were also killed that year.
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In 2023, a damning report by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority concluded that commercial whaling is inconsistent with the country’s animal welfare law. Its observation of whale killing footage taken onboard revealed that 41% of whales took on average 11.5 minutes before dying, while some took up to two hours to die, in contravention of the Animal Welfare Act. More than one quarter of the whales were harpooned twice before eventually dying. The report also showed that most whales killed (73%) were female, 11 of whom were pregnant and one lactating, meaning her dependent calf will have perished at sea without her.
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