Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the policy of the Icelandic government to permit the continued whaling of endangered Fin whales on the long-term survival of that species; if he will raise that policy and its effect on marine biodiversity with his Icelandic counterpart; and if he will make a statement.

The UK Government’s position on whaling is clear – we remain strongly opposed to all commercial whaling with no exceptions. We raise our opposition with whaling nations at every appropriate opportunity, including at the biennial meetings of the International Whaling Commission (most recently in September 2018) and through coordinated efforts with other likeminded countries. Furthermore, during his visit to Iceland in August 2017 the Secretary of State raised the UK's strong opposition to their whaling with the Icelandic Prime Minister.