Japanese Whaling, Taiji Dolphin Hunt and IWC Politics — 2026-09-25
Iceland's 2026 whaling season has ended with 93 fin whales taken, while the IWC opens its 70th meeting in Hobart this weekend. Kyodo Senpaku's Kangei Maru is on its third voyage of the season, having landed over 1,060 tonnes of whale meat so far. A deceased fin whale washed ashore in Chiba, drawing wide Japanese media attention.
Japanese Whaling, Taiji Dolphin Hunt and IWC Politics — 2026-09-25
Top developments
Iceland's 2026 fin whale season ends after 93 kills
Hvalur hf. has ended Iceland's 2026 commercial whaling season after taking 93 fin whales over a 94-day season, disrupted by poor weather. The season was Iceland's first in two years, following a pause during which no whales were killed. With Iceland heading toward a proposed commercial whaling ban from 2027, the season's close narrows the pelagic fin-whale supply picture and sharpens attention on Japan and Norway as the remaining whalers.
IWC 70th meeting opens in Hobart this weekend
The International Whaling Commission's 70th meeting begins in Hobart, Australia, this weekend, with delegates from 89 member governments set to discuss whale conservation, commercial whaling and growing threats to whale populations. The agenda will keep pressure on the countries still hunting commercially, and follows recent international proposals to review the commercial moratorium.
Kangei Maru lands 1,060 tonnes, third voyage underway
Kyodo Senpaku's mother ship Kangei Maru has landed a combined 1,060 tonnes (whale-meat basis) of fin, Bryde's and sei whales so far this season, with catches described as broadly on track. The vessel is currently on its third voyage and is scheduled to return to Sendai port in mid-October. Kyodo Senpaku is pursuing whale-meat promotion campaigns to expand demand as the season progresses.
Fin whale carcass washes up on Chiba's Kujukuri beach
A roughly 17-metre fin whale drifted ashore on September 19 at Kujukurihama beach in Sosa, Chiba Prefecture, after being affected by Typhoon No. 25. The municipality is contending with disposal of the carcass, which risks gas-driven rupture. Chiba Prefecture says the animal was confirmed dead when it came ashore — it was not killed by the whaling fleet. Coverage highlighted the scale and cost of handling large whale strandings.
Local view
Japan's trade and fisheries-press coverage (Jiji's weekly fisheries column) frames the Kangei Maru season positively, emphasizing fresh landings at Sendai port and promotion of whale meat through figures like the "Whale Princess" PR campaign, with the third voyage due back mid-October.. No fresh Taiji-specific local reporting from after 2026-09-18 was found in this week's research.
Context & numbers
- Japan's 2026 catch limits: 145 common minke, 153 Bryde's, 56 sei and 58 fin whales, calculated per the IWC's Revised Management Procedure.
- Kangei Maru landed 1,060 tonnes so far this season; last season the company targeted exceeding 2,000 tonnes.
- Iceland 2026: 93 fin whales in 94 days.
- Norway and Iceland set their own national quotas under reservations to the IWC moratorium; Iceland's possible exit would leave only Norway and Japan commercially whaling.
On the radar
- IWC 70th meeting outcomes in Hobart — watch for resolutions on the commercial moratorium and small cetaceans.
- Kangei Maru's mid-October return to Sendai port with third-voyage landings.
- Japan's planned 2027 commercial whaling ban in Iceland, expected to isolate Tokyo and Oslo at the IWC.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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