Determining which country kills the most whales each year is complex because the total global harvest is divided among legally distinct activities. These activities include commercial whaling outside international regulation, non-lethal research that sometimes involves incidental takes, and traditional subsistence hunts. Identifying the nation responsible for the highest number of kills requires examining countries operating under exceptions to the global ban or those that have withdrawn from international oversight.
The Global Regulatory Framework Governing Whaling
The international management of whale populations is primarily overseen by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), established under the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW). The ICRW was designed to conserve whale stocks and regulate the whaling industry. The IWC’s main legal instrument is the Schedule, which contains regulations and catch limits for member countries.
In 1982, the IWC adopted a global moratorium on commercial whaling, which took effect for the 1985/1986 season. This moratorium, designated as Schedule Paragraph 10(e), remains in place today and applies a zero catch limit to all commercial whaling stocks. However, the Convention allows member states to lodge a formal objection to any Schedule amendment, permitting them to legally continue whaling despite the ban.
Nations Reporting the Highest Annual Whale Kills
The highest number of whales killed annually under government sanction are taken by three nations: Norway, Iceland, and Japan. These countries utilize various legal mechanisms to operate outside the IWC’s commercial whaling moratorium. Norway, for example, lodged a formal objection to the 1982 moratorium, meaning the ban is not legally binding on them under the terms of the ICRW.
Norway has consistently conducted commercial whaling primarily for Minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic. Since the moratorium took effect, Norway has killed over 17,000 Minke whales, with recent annual totals in the hundreds. The 2024 season alone resulted in 414 Minke whales being taken.
Iceland rejoined the IWC in 2002 with a reservation to the moratorium, allowing it to continue commercial whaling for both Fin and Minke whales. Since rejoining, Iceland has killed over 1,500 whales, including endangered Fin whales. In 2024, the Icelandic government issued a permit for commercial whaling, allowing the hunt to continue.
Japan historically utilized Article VIII of the ICRW, which permits lethal takes for scientific research, known as “Special Permit Whaling.” Between 1987 and 2019, Japan killed 17,637 whales under this system, though the meat was sold commercially. In 2019, Japan withdrew from the IWC entirely to resume overt commercial whaling within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Its current quotas are now set domestically and are not subject to IWC review. The combined reported takes from these three nations far exceed the kills from any other country, placing them at the top of the annual kill list.
Whaling Under Indigenous and Subsistence Exceptions
Not all legally sanctioned whaling is commercial; the IWC maintains a specific provision for Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling (ASW). This exemption accommodates the cultural and nutritional needs of certain indigenous communities. The IWC sets six-year block quotas for these hunts, which are non-commercial and strictly regulated.
The quotas are allocated to indigenous communities in four specific countries:
- The United States (for Alaska Natives)
- The Russian Federation (for the people of Chukotka)
- Denmark (for Greenland’s indigenous people)
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines (for the people of Bequia)
These hunts target species such as Bowhead, Gray, Minke, and Fin whales, with the IWC Scientific Committee ensuring the sustainability of the takes.
Although these kills contribute to the total annual global number, they are significantly lower than commercial numbers. For instance, in 2023, the total number of whales reported killed under ASW quotas was 369. This category operates under humanitarian and cultural considerations, distinguishing it from large-scale commercial operations.
The Challenge of Unreported and Illegal Whaling
A complete picture of which country kills the most whales is complicated by activities that are unreported or conducted outside regulatory frameworks. Illegal whaling occurs when a country or vessel kills whales in contravention of national laws, IWC quotas, or area restrictions. “Pirate whaling” is a distinct issue, referring to unregulated hunts conducted by vessels under a flag of convenience, operating entirely outside the IWC’s jurisdiction.
Historical investigations revealed widespread falsification of catch data, notably by the former Soviet Union, which illegally killed tens of thousands of whales over several decades. Modern illegal whaling is difficult to quantify but often involves the opportunistic killing of small cetaceans or small-scale coastal catches not monitored by international bodies. These unreported catches may sometimes be mislabeled or disguised as legal bycatch from fishing operations.
The lack of a comprehensive international monitoring system means the true extent of illegal and unreported kills is unknown, creating a significant enforcement gap. Data from 2023 indicated that 294 whales were killed by countries that are not members of the IWC, illustrating the lack of global transparency. While reported kills point clearly to the three commercial whaling nations, the hidden toll from illegal operations makes the actual total annual kill by country impossible to confirm.