Iceland opts out of commercial whaling

KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP

Iceland has opted out of commercial whaling.

For the first time in 17 years, Hvalur HF, the company certified to hunt whales in the country, failed to renew its license in time.

This means there will be no hunting of the endangered fin whale or the common minke whale for the remainder of the year

A shrinking appetite for whale meat was cited as the reason for foregoing the hunt.

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