Iceland’s government has announced plans to introduce legislation in February that would permanently ban commercial whaling, potentially leaving only Norway and Japan continuing the practice.

But despite the government’s parliamentary majority and commitment to change the law, campaigners warn that existing five year licences could mean whales continue to be hunted even after new legislation is passed.

The announcement represents a potentially decisive moment in Iceland’s long running debate over whaling, with the country’s industries minister committing the government to rewriting legislation she has described as overdue for revision.

Whaling returned to Icelandic waters in June after a two year absence, with vessels belonging to Hvalur hf, the country’s only remaining fin whaling company, heading back to sea.

Around 80 fin whales have already been killed from a permitted total of up to 150.

The future market for that meat has also been thrown into doubt following a decision by the Japanese government not to allow imports, leaving campaigners questioning why the hunt is continuing.

There had already been hopes that Icelandic whaling was approaching its end after the government previously suspended hunts because of concerns over animal welfare.

An official report from Iceland’s veterinary authority found that the exploding harpoons used during whale hunts could cause prolonged suffering and did not meet the country’s own animal welfare standards.

Studies cited by campaigners have found that whales can take as long as 20 minutes to die after being struck by one of the harpoons.

The proposed permanent ban therefore appears to offer a route towards finally ending the hunts, but the timing remains uncertain.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation says five year rolling licences issued in 2024 could complicate attempts to stop whaling immediately.

WDC anti whaling campaigner Luke McMillan said:

“This is good news for whales but the same minister has said she will take full account of the five-year rolling licences issued in 2024.

“The rewrite has to reckon with the rights of the people holding permits today.

“One outcome we need to be prepared for is that whaling ends when those licences end, not on the day the law changes.

“Our work now is to make sure the bill says what it needs to say to bring the hunt to an end permanently.”

That leaves an uncomfortable gap between the political commitment to end commercial whaling and the point at which the final Icelandic whale hunt actually takes place.

The legislation expected in February should provide the first clear indication of whether Iceland’s whaling era is about to end immediately or whether existing licences will allow the hunts to continue for several more years.

If Iceland succeeds in introducing a permanent ban, Norway and Japan would remain the only countries continuing commercial whaling.