Iceland's whaling ban leaves Japan isolated with only Norway as commercial hunter

Iceland's decision to introduce legislation banning whaling early next year will leave Japan and Norway as the only two countries in the world still conducting commercial whale hunts, ramping up international pressure on Tokyo to abandon an industry that critics say survives on government subsidies and political symbolism rather than genuine market demand.

Shrinking support and isolation

The Icelandic government has announced it will submit the bill in the coming months, a move that environmental campaigners believe will make it harder for Japan to justify killing up to 412 whales annually. Public opinion surveys in Japan show domestic support for whaling has declined in recent years.

Animal rights groups argue that being left alone with only Oslo will expose Japan to intensified negative publicity and a deepening sense of international isolation. Critics of the Japanese whaling programme say it depends heavily on public money and political theatre, propped up despite low domestic consumption of whale meat.

The Reykjavik government's decision marks a significant shift in the global whaling landscape, stripping away another layer of diplomatic cover for Japan as it seeks to defend hunts that have drawn sustained international criticism.

Source: South China Morning Post