THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

In pictures: how Greenpeace stopped commercial whale hunting Whales are incredible creatures. They are the largest animals on earth, can be found in all oceans and play an important role in the marine environment . Warm-blooded and air breathing mammals like us, whales are our allies in the fight against climate change . Their poop fertilises the ocean, which produces large blooms of microscopic algae that absorb enormous amounts of carbon dioxide. For thousands of years though, whales have been hunted for their meat, blubber and bones. But it was in the 20th century that they became hunted on a large commercial scale, because of factory ships and explosive harpoons. 50,000 whales were killed yearly by 1930, which led to a rapid decline in whale numbers. After years of high profile anti-whaling campaigns and public pressure, the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) landmark conference in Brighton in 1982 decided there should be a pause in commercial whaling. Known as a whaling moratorium, the ban allowed some types of whales to recover their populations. For example, humpback whales have made a remarkable comeback. In the mid 1950s, only 450 remained. And now their population …

Iceland's controversial whale hunt set to resume within days Countdown begins: Iceland’s controversial whale hunt set to resume within days (Reykjavik, 10 June 2026)—Following a two-year hiatus, whaling is set to resume in Iceland with a quota of 150 fin whales and 168 minke whales, amid controversy and rising political tensions over the industry’s future. Icelandic whaling company, Hvalur hf. recently confirmed its intention to return to sea to hunt fin whales this summer. Fin whales are the second-largest animals in the world and are officially consideredvulnerable, meaning the species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. Conservationists from IFAW have branded fin whaling unnecessary, inhumane, and brutal. For the animals hunted, it often results in prolonged suffering following an exhausting chase and being struck by a harpoon.Official studiesshow that, in some cases, it can take up to two hours for a harpooned whale to die. Cases have also been documented where severely injured whales managed to escape. “Tragically, fin whales will be hunted in Iceland as early as mid-June,”says Andreas Dinkelmeyer, Campaign Manager at IFAW Germany.“This is a devastating setback.…

Youth advocates rally together as whaling resumes off the coast of ... Congrats to our 2026 Storyfest Winners! 16 years of impact Apply to be a Planet Forward Correspondent The Indigenous Correspondents Program Our Water Stories Wild Vermejo | Multimedia Storytelling in the Wild SUBMIT | Planet Forward Featured Photo Amazing Educators Planet Forward Opportunities Planet Forward Series Hub Katie Perkins Planet Forward Correspondent |Texas Tech University Planet Forward Correspondent |Texas Tech University Share on Social Media: Despite outrage from Icelanders and a large international community of environmental advocates, whales off the shores of the country are at risk yet again after the Icelandic government allowed commercial whaling to resume on Sept. 1, 2023. This follows a brief, temporary ban from Iceland’s Prime Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Svandís Svavarsdóttir. As hit artist Björk stood behind a DJ booth, her music filled a busy square as whale bones and roses scattered the ground. Dozens of roses were placed around the space representing the148 fin whales killedoff the coast of Iceland the previous season. The crowd was filled with young an…

Environmental Activists Face Trial After Boarding Icelandic Whaling ... Two environmental activists are headed to court this week after taking direct action to prevent commercial whaling ships from leaving Iceland’s capital harbor. On September 4, 2023, at 4 a.m., Elissa Phillips and Anahita Sahar Babaei climbed aboard two aging whaling vessels moored in Reykjavík harbor in an attempt to stop the ships from going to sea. The activists’ dramatic intervention came just as Iceland had lifted a temporary ban on whale hunting, leading the women to believe that crews would soon resume their commercial whale hunts. Their peaceful protest represents the latest challenge to Iceland’s controversial whaling industry, which continues despite growing international pressure to end the practice. Iceland remains one of only three countries worldwide that still permits commercial whaling, alongside Norway and Japan. The Nordic island nation has faced increasing criticism from environmental groups and the international community over its decision to continue hunting whales, particularly as whale populations face mounting pressures from climate change, ocean pollution, and ship strikes. As Phillips …

Peaceful Protest Against Whaling in Iceland Lands Two Activists in Court At 4 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2023, two environmental activists, Elissa Phillips and Anahita Sahar Babaei, climbed aboard a pair of aging whaling vessels moored side by side in Reykjavík harbor to stop them from heading out to sea. A temporary ban on killing whales in Iceland had just been lifted and the women believed the ships’ crew would soon resume their hunt. “We knew it meant watching more whales being butchered unnecessarily,” said Phillips, a British citizen who, prior to boarding the vessels, had volunteered with Sea Shepherd UK, a marine conservation nonprofit now known as the Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK, documenting whale kills in Iceland. Carrying food, water, medicine, blankets, chains and padlocks, the women scaled the ships’ mast ladders, hauling themselves nearly 50 feet high to lock into the crow’s nests of Hvalur 8 and Hvalur 9 . The two ships are owned by Hvalur hf., Iceland’s last remaining company that hunts fin whales—the second-largest animals on Earth, surpassed only by blue whales. Elissa Phillips and Anahita Sahar Babaei climbed aboard two whaling vessels in Reykjavík, Iceland, to stop…

Iceland resumes whale hunt amid protest One of Iceland’s two remaining whaling ships set out this week to hunt the giant mammals after a two-year hiatus, local media and campaigners reported on Saturday. Iceland is one of only three countries that still openly permit whaling, alongside Norway and Japan – despite international opprobrium from the public and animal welfare organisations. A protester chained himself to the mast of the vessel before it left the port of Reykjavik on Friday. He climbed down in the evening and was escorted...

Iceland resumes whale hunting after two-year hiatus amid protest The whaling ship Hvalur 9 pictured in 2015. It is not known whether it is the ship involved in the most recent whaling expedition. Photo / Bloomberg via Getty Images One of Iceland’s two remaining whaling ships set out this week to hunt the giant mammals after a two-year hiatus, local media and campaigners reported. Iceland is one of only three countries that still openly permit whaling, alongside Norway and Japan, despite international outrage from animal welfare organisations. A protester chained himself to the mast of the vessel before it left the port of Reykjavik on Friday. He climbed down in the evening and was escorted away by police, RUV media said. Joanna Swabe of the Humane World for Animals NGO said: “It is so disheartening to see Iceland’s whaling boat leave port to begin another season of whale slaughter despite overwhelming evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale. These ocean giants will very likely endure an agonising death for meat that virtually no one in Iceland wants to eat.” Iceland cancelled its whale hunt in 2024 and 2025, partly because economic woes had cut demand and the industr…

British activist facing jail in Iceland after protesting against whale ... Two environmental activists are facing potential prison sentences after climbing onto the mast of a whaling boat and remaining there for 33 hours during a protest in Iceland . Elyssia Phillips, a British woman from Lewes, and her close friend Anahita Babaei, who is Iranian, had been campaigning against the controversial practice of killing endangered fin whales. Only three countries in the world defy the International Whaling Commission ’s ban on commercial whaling, which sees the enormous sea creatures killed with explosive harpoons and has been a cause celebre for environmental movements for decades. Since being released on bail following their arrest in September 2023, they have been charged with three criminal offences, which could see them spend six months in prison or pay a hefty fine. Their lawyers, however, argue they are being made an example of as Icelandic police aim to crack down on civilian protests, in the wake of several anti-whaling and anti-fishery movements that have gained traction in the Nordic country. open image in gallery Babaei remained there with no food or medication ( Boris Niehau…

Iceland resumes whale hunt amid protest | The Manila Times REYKJAVIK, Iceland —One of Iceland's two remaining whaling ships set out this week to hunt the giant mammals after a two-year hiatus, local media and campaigners reported on Saturday. Iceland is one of only three countries that still openly permit whaling, alongside Norway and Japan -- despite international opprobrium from the public and animal welfare organizations. A protester chained himself to the mast of the vessel before it left the port of Reykjavik on Friday. He climbing down in the evening and was escorted away by police, RUV media said. "It is so disheartening to see Iceland's whaling boat leave port to begin another season of whale slaughter despite overwhelming evidence that there is no humane way to kill a whale," Joanna Swabe of the Humane World for Animals NGO said after the second vessel headed out to sea. "These ocean giants will very likely endure an agonizing death for meat that virtually no one in Iceland wants to eat," she told AFP. Iceland cancelled its whale hunt in 2024 and 2025, partly because economic woes had cut demand and the industry was not deemed sufficiently profitable. The Internatio…