Whales and Mammals
The sea shores around Iceland are the home to a variety of whales, although many of them only spend the summer months close to the countries shores.
Wild land mammals in Iceland are not many. Actually, the are only seven; Foxes, reindeers, minks, brown rats, black rats, field mice and house mice. Of these, only the Arctic fox is an original terrestrial mammal. All others have been imported to the country.
About 45% of the currently known whale species have their distribution in European waters. At least 11 whale species can frequently be seen in Icelandic waters. Many of them belong to a group known as great whales with respects to their body size. The smallest of the great whales is the minke whale, which is also considered to be the most abundant species, not only in Iceland but worldwide.
Several of these species are migratory. They travel south and spend the winter months in warmer waters to give birth, but will return to the North Atlantic to feed during the summertime. The movement of the whales that stay in the North Atlantic year round is generally linked to the distribution of their food source.
The whales most frequently seen in Icelandic are:
- Blue whale
- Fin whale
- Sei whale
- Minke whale
- Humpback whale
- Sperm whale
- Northern bottlenose whale
- Long-finned pilot whale
- Orca / killer whale
- White-beaked dolphin
- Harbour porpoise
Whaling was practiced in Iceland from the Middle Ages until at least 1986, when Iceland banned whaling, except for the purpose of scientific research. In 1989, all whaling was ceased, but in October 2006 it was allowed again.
Today, whale watching trips are becoming ever-more popular, and make up a specialized branch of the Icelandic tourism industry. Those who lead the whale watching trips are opposed to whaling. Others have pointed out that whaling and whale watching can co-exist very well.
