More than 630,000 American tourists visit Iceland each year, and they are being urged not to consume whale meat during their vacation. Instead, visitors are encouraged to appreciate whales alive and wild at sea. Most Icelanders do not eat whale meat, and the vast majority of consumption comes from the 2.3 million foreign tourists who visit the country annually.
The “For the Love of Iceland” campaign, initiated by Iceland’s Hvalavinir (Whale Friends) and Humane World for Animals, aims to protect whales by promoting ethical tourism rather than whale meat consumption. Tourists are invited to take the #fortheloveoficeland pledge as a demonstration of support.
The United States accounts for the largest share of foreign visitors to Iceland. Whale meat is often marketed to tourists as an Icelandic delicacy, despite less than 2% of Icelanders actually consuming it. Hvalavinir has distributed pledge cards at hotels and tourist information centers and launched an online pledge, emphasizing that eating whale meat is not an authentic Icelandic tradition. The campaign encourages visitors to avoid restaurants that serve whale meat and to respect Iceland’s wildlife.
“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,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. “Tourists have the choice either to condemn whales by eating them or save them by viewing them in their natural habitat.”
Iceland, Norway, and Japan are currently the only countries that continue commercial whale hunting. Iceland issued permits last year allowing up to 2,130 whales to be killed over five years, including 209 endangered fin whales and 217 minke whales annually from 2025 to 2029, despite evidence that some whales experienced prolonged deaths in violation of Iceland’s Animal Welfare Act.
“Iceland is famous for its breathtaking wild landscapes and amazing wildlife. Killing whales is not part of Icelandic culture; it began only in 1948. Our culture is truly rooted in respecting and protecting whales and the ocean,” said Valgerður Árnadóttir from Hvalavinir Whale Friends. “We urge foreign visitors to experience Iceland authentically by marveling at whales in their natural habitat. There are plenty of ethical whale-watching excursions that allow visitors to witness these majestic creatures alive and free.”
