Whales were hunted historically for their whale oil, meat, baleen and ambergris. However, the practice became so commercialized that many whale species are now endangered and there is a moratorium on commercial whaling by the International Whaling Commission.
Whale watching is now an exciting option and visitors are almost guaranteed to see these mammals when in
Iceland. The most common whales to be seen are the minke whales, but there are also blue whales, humpback whales, sei and fin whales along with a number of dolphin species including white beaks and harbor porpoises. Trips are taken in old-fashioned oak boats. The whale-watching season lasts from May to September.
Tours may last for hours, and are an awesome experience as visitors see these giants cavorting in their natural environment. The most popular place to take a tour is Husavik, in the north of Iceland, which is considered the ‘Whale Watching Capital of the World’.
