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Ending global whaling

Why Whales Matter

Whales store carbon in their bodies, fertilise the ocean with nutrients that boost plankton growth, and shape healthy food webs. Thriving whale populations strengthen coastal economies through responsible whale-watching and help regulate the climate.

Climate buffers

Whales lock away carbon over their long lives.

Ocean gardeners

Their nutrient plumes stimulate phytoplankton growth.

Worth more alive

Whale-watching supports local jobs and science.

History of Whaling

Industrial hunting in the 19th and 20th centuries devastated great whales. Millions were killed for oil and meat. The International Whaling Commission’s 1986 moratorium stopped most commercial whaling, allowing some populations to begin recovery—but threats remain.

1900 - 1970

Industrial fleets push species to near extinction.

1986

IWC moratorium begins.

TODAY

Most nations comply, but three continue.

“Three countries continue commercial whaling: Iceland, Norway, & Japan”
Islandic Operation Whales

We intend to stop him! Commercial whaling is a violation of the International Whaling Commission’s global moratorium on commercial whaling. Icelandic whaling is a crime. The Captain Paul Watson Foundation has established Operation Paiakan for the purpose of protecting these endangered Fin whales from Loftsson’s merciless harpoons.

Captain Paul Watson Foundation

Stefan continues to be very passionate about spreading awareness about whaling in Iceland. Last year his first illustration series “Let Them Live” was created. More recently, he has been involved with Japan’s plan to increase the consumption of whale meat in schools and vending machines.

He also donated some cards over Christmas with his artwork to the whale museum in Iceland to spread awareness and back the petition. This summer he plans to make one of his whale illustrations into a mural for an outdoor wall in Reykjavik.

Meet Styngvi

Keep up with latest information

Learn More Now

"I promise not to eat whale meat and I ask Iceland to stop whaling".

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Initiatives we backed

Protecting North Atlantic Minke whales from Norway's exploitative whaling industry

The Endangered Species Protection Agency (ESPA) continues to investigate and educate the public and decision makers about the irregularities of this barbaric and unethical industry in Norway, building a case to change legislation and secure protection.

Cruelty and welfare:

A penthrite grenade harpoon fired from a bow-mounted cannon penetrates the whale’s body and detonates. The resulting shock wave is intended to cause massive immediate death, but more than 20% of whales do not die instantly. ESPA filmed a whale harpooned by the Kato, which took 31 minutes to die, and other whales that were wounded, slipped the harpoon or left to bleed out, i.e. no follow-up shot was taken. This is ethically unacceptable, completely unmonitored, and against all EU animal welfare legislation. Furthermore, there is a conflict of interest in the grenades claimed efficiency, as the veterinarian who confirms their suitability profits from their sale.

Unjustified whaling:

The Norwegian government has allocated over $27 million to support its small-scale whaling fleet and to promote whale meat to a limited domestic market, where less than 2% of Norwegians consume whale products. The government has also allocated substantial funds to support lobbying initiatives in favor of the whaling industry and the Norwegian Fisheries Association’s ‘Whales versus Fish’ campaign. This unjustly blames whales for decreasing fish stocks, but this is simply a propaganda effort to justify killing whales. Research confirms that humans do not currently eat the fish species consumed by minke whales.

Catch data:

Catch data from Norway shows that females, on average, make up nearly 70% of the annual catch. Female minke whales are slower and tend to surface more frequently, and, accordingly, they are much easier to kill with a harpoon. This negatively affects the population size, as birth and growth rates will be substantially lower in a male-biased population. Norway’s minke whale quota is based on weak science. Abundance estimates are flawed due to insufficient and questionable data. Industry bias is rife and, worse still, self-regulated. Many marine biologists are seriously concerned about the data gaps.

Whale meat for pet food:

Until recently, more than 25% of whales were killed for the Norwegian pet food market. Thanks to ESPA’s previous documentary highlighting this despicable driver of Norway’s whaling industry, the use of marine mammal meet in pet food was banned in the spring of 2025 in a directive issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to whale meat processors that confirmed Norway was a signatory to two EU trading directives that banned the use of marine mammal meat in the pet food industry. This was a big win for whales.

Contaminated Whale meat:

High Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels were found in all whale meat samples tested in 2024. PFOS is a class of chemicals linked to immune and thyroid dysfunction, cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, and adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes. PFOS are “forever chemicals” due to their persistence and tendency to bio-accumulate in animals, people, and the environment. ESPA prompted the 2024 tests.

Cruelty and welfare:

A penthrite grenade harpoon fired from a bow-mounted cannon penetrates the whale’s body and detonates. The resulting shock wave is intended to cause massive immediate death, but more than 20% of whales do not die instantly. ESPA filmed a whale harpooned by the Kato, which took 31 minutes to die, and other whales that were wounded, slipped the harpoon or left to bleed out, i.e. no follow-up shot was taken. This is ethically unacceptable, completely unmonitored, and against all EU animal welfare legislation. Furthermore, there is a conflict of interest in the grenades claimed efficiency, as the veterinarian who confirms their suitability profits from their sale.

Unjustified whaling:

The Norwegian government has allocated over $27 million to support its small-scale whaling fleet and to promote whale meat to a limited domestic market, where less than 2% of Norwegians consume whale products. The government has also allocated substantial funds to support lobbying initiatives in favor of the whaling industry and the Norwegian Fisheries Association’s ‘Whales versus Fish’ campaign. This unjustly blames whales for decreasing fish stocks, but this is simply a propaganda effort to justify killing whales. Research confirms that humans do not currently eat the fish species consumed by minke whales.

Catch data:

Catch data from Norway shows that females, on average, make up nearly 70% of the annual catch. Female minke whales are slower and tend to surface more frequently, and, accordingly, they are much easier to kill with a harpoon. This negatively affects the population size, as birth and growth rates will be substantially lower in a male-biased population. Norway’s minke whale quota is based on weak science. Abundance estimates are flawed due to insufficient and questionable data. Industry bias is rife and, worse still, self-regulated. Many marine biologists are seriously concerned about the data gaps.

Whale meat for pet food:

Until recently, more than 25% of whales were killed for the Norwegian pet food market. Thanks to ESPA’s previous documentary highlighting this despicable driver of Norway’s whaling industry, the use of marine mammal meet in pet food was banned in the spring of 2025 in a directive issued by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to whale meat processors that confirmed Norway was a signatory to two EU trading directives that banned the use of marine mammal meat in the pet food industry. This was a big win for whales.

Contaminated Whale meat:

High Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels were found in all whale meat samples tested in 2024. PFOS is a class of chemicals linked to immune and thyroid dysfunction, cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, and adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes. PFOS are “forever chemicals” due to their persistence and tendency to bio-accumulate in animals, people, and the environment. ESPA prompted the 2024 tests.

Whale Wash - The Forgotten Whale

Watch these documentaries by our friends and grantee Endangered Species Protection Agency
ESPA 2023 one-hour documentary: Whale Wash - The Forgotten Whale
An investigative documentary examining Norway’s modern whaling industry and why the country continues whaling in the 21st century while others have stopped

Harpooned: The Great Whale Betrayal

ESPA investigators follow minke whales through contested waters, tracking whaling vessels, speaking with conservationists, and revealing how two neighbouring states take starkly different approaches, one offering sanctuary, the other a bounty.
Harpooned: The Great Whale Betrayal 🐋

Norway stats, see how you want to show this:

Norway has hunted and killed over 18,100 Minke whales since the implementation of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban in 1986.

Norway’s whaling fleet continues to kill more whales than Iceland and Japan combined, under its objection to the International Whaling Commission’s 1986 moratorium.

Still killing over 500 minke whales each season in a dreadful manner with ineffective grenade-tipped harpoons. Some rogue whalers use bare harpoons to avoid the cost of the grenade. (shown by ESPA in Whale Wash – The Forgotten Whale)

No evidence that you can have too many whales. You can actually loose fish populations with a decreasing whale population.

Although around 10–12 vessels participate in Norway’s commercial whaling each season, only a handful of vessel names are publicly identifiable.

Some of the Norwegian boats:

Kato (full time whaling)

Fiskebank1

Reinebuen

Midsund

Nordfangst

Marie

Norway has hunted and killed over 18,100 Minke whales since the implementation of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) ban in 1986.

Norway’s whaling fleet continues to kill more whales than Iceland and Japan combined, under its objection to the International Whaling Commission’s 1986 moratorium.

Still killing over 500 minke whales each season in a dreadful manner with ineffective grenade-tipped harpoons. Some rogue whalers use bare harpoons to avoid the cost of the grenade. (shown by ESPA in Whale Wash – The Forgotten Whale)

No evidence that you can have too many whales. You can actually loose fish populations with a decreasing whale population.

Although around 10–12 vessels participate in Norway’s commercial whaling each season, only a handful of vessel names are publicly identifiable.

Some of the Norwegian boats:

Kato (full time whaling)

Fiskebank1

Reinebuen

Midsund

Nordfangst

Marie

Our Partnership

Working together

We partner with science, policy, and grassroots organisations to end commercial whaling. Together, we strengthen public awareness, responsible tourism, and policy change.

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MICHAEL ROSEN

Michael Rosen has experience at a partner and co-founder level in private equity and venture capital funds. He has evaluated, executed and managed investments across many sectors and stages, raised capital, managed teams and worked closely with portfolio companies. He was the COO of a listed investment vehicle, and most recently the CIO of Ocean Born Impact where he oversaw investment strategies focused on companies that positively impact planetary health, emphasizing areas such as the energy transition, clean transportation, sustainable production, and enabling technologies.

 

Earlier in his career, Michael served as a Partner at Pamplona Capital Management, where he was responsible for identifying and managing investment opportunities across various sectors. His career began as an Analyst in the Financial Sponsors Group at Merrill Lynch in London.

 

Michael continues to make and support impactful investments that combine environmental sustainability with technological innovation, leveraging his extensive experience in finance and investment management. His investments include impact-focused businesses such as Olio (food waste), Skin Analytics (Al for skin cancer detection), Bramble Energy (hydrogen fuel cells), and CHOOOSE (carbon-offsetting and mitigation).

 

Michael graduated from Oxford University in 2001 with a first class degree in PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics), and in 2024 he published his first novel, The Consciousness Company, about a start-up company.

 

Michael is currently a venture partner for the impact fund, Mustard Seed Maze, and is happy to talk about private equity, venture capital and impact investing.

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