In the same year, whaling in Iceland was suspended for two months after a government investigation concluded that the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws.
Monitoring by the government veterinary service showed that the explosive harpoons caused the whales prolonged agony.
Keith, Iceland’s only remaining whaling vessel was instead dependent on license renewal on an annual basis.
The Environmental Association of Iceland said the news permits “violate the interests of the climate, nature and animal welfare”.
Sharon Livermore, director of marine conservation programs at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said: “The nation’s few wealthy whalers continue to exert influence even in the final hours of the interim government.
“This government should have just held the fort, but instead it took a very controversial and hasty decision.”
Iceland’s ruling Independence Party lost to the center-left Social Democratic Alliance in early elections on Saturday.
Icelandic government announcement, external said the total allowable catch followed the Norwegian Fisheries Agency’s recommendations “which are based on sustainable use and a precautionary approach”.
