Iceland on the web can plan you a very friendly and inexpensive package for whale watching in reykjavik. Companies follow a protocol so as not to disturb them any more than than necessary, turning off their motors when they get very close and never approaching from the front. Here you can find and reserve places in any of our daily tours in iceland. Whales of iceland best time and places to go whale watching. Location gentle giants whale watching husavik, iceland. Whales of iceland can be crowded, so we recommend booking etickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Today, iceland is one of the countries that have placed great emphasis on whale watching and iceland is a very good place for those who want to see the whales and learn about their way of living in the wild. Whales of iceland is the largest whales exhibition of its kind in the world.
Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. We are a proud member of the icelandic whale watching association which is an active organization for the whale watching operators in iceland. Featured are 23 lifesize models of the species found in icelandic waters. We stayed a little bit to enjoy from very close their aerial displays, until our first mate otto spotted a large blow in the distance, that lead us to a humpback whale, the second of the year. Surround yourself in history and visit the old village of hjalteyri, which has a population of 43 inhabitants. The blue whale is of immense size and has a long, slender streamlined body. On a whale watching tour from reykjavik with special tours wildlife adventures you will be able to experience some of icelands rich and thriving bird life, as well as visit our large variety of sealife, including minke whales, humpback whales, harbour porpoises and whitebeaked dolphins among other whale species. There is a small town in northern iceland that describes itself as europes best whalewatching destination.
The caudal peduncle is extremely strong but the dorsal fin is small, situated to the rear of the back and only 30 cm high. Fin whales safe from iceland hunt, minke whales not so. These range from one of the smallest marine mammals, the harbour porpoise, all the way up to the gigantic blue whale. Whale watching in iceland is a responsible and highly profitable alternative to the whaling industry, and is growing in popularity as people visit iceland to see these majestic marine mammals. The whales of iceland exhibit is the largest exhibition of its kind in europe. Reunion charter for responsible viewing of marine mammals and turtles french, france. Around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. Bbc news sciencenature iceland begins commercial whaling. Whale watching has blossomed over the last few years and at least companies run whale watching trips from various places around iceland. Given our mission to protect orcas in iceland and their habitat through noninvasive research and education we set out to develop a speciesspecific code of conduct for responsible orca watching based on prior research and field observations.
The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. Icewhale therefore initiated the development of this code of conduct for responsible whale watching. With this trip you will have the entrance to the whales of iceland exhibition, where you will check, in real, how big are these mammals, as they are real scale handmade models that will make you feel that you are swimming in the ocean with them, listening them singing under the water, and also you will see how do their filters and different parts of their bodies like. Iceland suspended its fin whale hunt last year, after japan, its main market, introduced restrictive regulations. The lowlying sun is something not to be missed, as it casts a warm glow over the snowcapped mountains surrounding the bay, often painting the sky bright orange or pink. And although whale watching in iceland is growing, it is still far from being commercial. Hjalteyri whale watching try a unique whale watching tour from the charming village of hjalteyri, a well kept secret in the heart of north iceland, only a 15 minute drive from akureyri. Jul 05, 2018 whale watching in iceland is a responsible and highly profitable alternative to the whaling industry, and is growing in popularity as people visit iceland to see these majestic marine mammals. Between 2012 and 20, the number of whale watchers increased by 45,000, and the total number is now around 200,000 annually.
Whale watching tours in the north of iceland dalvik if youre based in the north of the country, a whale watching trip from dalvik is the ideal option for you. Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland. Our whale watching boat, rosin the rose, offers an absolute innovation in whale watching adventures in iceland, it is fast and a luxurious whale watching boat, one of its kind in iceland, providing security and luxury for all.
The back is dark grey or bluish, the sides are mottled with in a paler bluish grey and the underside is of a lighter hue. Iceland, it said, now has the chance to show itself as a leader in issues of marine conservation by opposing commercial whaling and trade in whale products. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed. Ten simple things to keep in mind about responsible whale watching. Gentle giants offers whale watching tours and other exciting seafaring adventures from the famous whale watching town husavik by skjalfandi bay, in the north of iceland. Were the oldest whale watching company in iceland, since 1993. Are whale watching ships responsible for strandings. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Whale watching tours in iceland have an incredible success rate. Mar, 2017 ninety percent of the minke whales hunted and killed each year in norwegian waters are female and almost all of them are pregnant, according to a documentary aired earlier this month on nrk, a governmentowned public broadcasting company. Code of conduct gentle giants whale watching husavik, iceland.
Responsible iceland whale watching arctic adventures. Far from harpoons, whales star in iceland ecotourism boom. Oct 17, 2006 the view of antiwhaling countries will, i predict, not change they believe that iceland s reservation is not legal so we, and i believe they, will argue that iceland s commercial whaling is in contravention of the iwc. Arctic adventures northern whale watching tours have a 98% success rate when it comes to whalesightings. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. Whale watching hauganes in north iceland whale watching. Dutch whaling commissioner guiseppe raaphorst confirmed that view.
Responsible whale watching whale watching iceland tours. Elding whale watching offers year round whale whatching tours from downtown reykjavik in iceland. Sea turns red to satisfy the lust of gourmets the inky still waters of an icelandic fjord are eerily calm until they are sliced suddenly by the ominous. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object clarification needed to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling commission in 1986, and that still. Whale watching husavik, iceland gentle giants whale. Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. Iceland the best tips for whale watching in iceland whaletrips. During its formulation staff involved in whale watching and international experts in the field.
We are delighted that little grey and little white enjoyed a. We have to remember that these are wild animals and to enjoy them for the future we need to show them patience and respect. Commercial trade in parts and products from species listed on appendix i is prohibited. May 16, 20 the brutal reality of whaling in iceland. Below you can download the catalogue and read about our icelandic orca. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. The whaleplanner december a whale watching infographic. Our tour selection combines of whale watching, northern lights by boat, puffin, rib and. Whales of iceland reykjavik 2020 all you need to know. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you need. The blue whale balaenoptera musculus is the largest known animal in the history of the planet.
Just 10 minutes north of hauganes is the scenic village of dalvik, at the mouth of svarfa. When you go whale watching in iceland, rest assured that the whale watching companies iceland conduct their activities with respect for the gentle giants. Guidelines and regulations whale watching handbook. Iceland resumed largescale trade in whale products under reservation to japan in 2008. They will then move to their new home in the secluded openwater bay. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. We will try to get you close but how close we get is always on the animals terms as we aim to minimize disturbance. Beluga whales safely land in iceland merlin entertainments. Iceland joined cites in 2000, and immediately took reservations to the listing of several species of whales, including fin and minke whales, on appendix i. A number of countries, but not iceland, objected to this decision.
The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. Icelands waters contain some of the most incredible marine life in the world. Whale watching reykjavik tours, iceland special tours. Three mps had also called for an inquiry into whaling in the autumn of 2012. Team of iceland unlimited recommends all travelers and especially families to visit this spectacular museum iceland unlimited team visited whales of iceland museum in reykjavik, the largest whale exhibition in europe. Each year continues to surprise us with the wildlife it offers. To download the full whaleplanner as a graphic, please just click this link and save the. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. We never recognised iceland s reservation, he said. Icewhales code of conduct for responsible whale watching. The whale watching port in the north is akureyri and husavik.
Blue whales, the largest mammals on earth, migrate into icelandic waters. Whale watching in iceland has grown enormously in recent decades and is very popular. Dalvik is an old fishing village and a commercial port for fisheries and goods in the area. After selecting a departure time to suit your schedule, climb aboard a traditional icelandic oak ship and set sail for a prime whalewatching destination on the icy. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland. This problem is compounded by the lack of government regulation around whale watching activities and the iceland whaling policy. However, the average size is about 70 tons, which is still more than 30 times heavier than the largest elephant. Iceland is therefore violating two major international agreements. Visitors have chances to glimpse blue whales, humpbacks, and orcas in their natural. Special tours offers amazing sea adventures from reykjavik, iceland. We are especially troubled by icelands harvest of 125 fin whales in 2009, 148 fin. Eu leads an international demarche against whaling by iceland.
Winter whale watching is a unique experience and a whole other adventure compared to our summer tours. It can reach the astounding size of over 33 m in length, weighing in at 190 tons. Realize your dreams of watching humpback whales and orcas in their natural environment on a 3hour original whale watching tour from husavik, capital of whale watching in iceland. Year round whale watching tours from reykjavik iceland. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. Whale watching is also available from the reykjavik harbour. We will use icewhales code of conduct as the base of our work and develop it from there on. Iceland is well known for its responsible marine resource. See all 7 whales of iceland tickets and tours on tripadvisor. Book a tour north sailing whale watching husavik iceland. These locations confirm, that whales are all around the coastline. Endangered fin whales can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices.
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