Key facts
- Iceland has resumed its whale hunt after a two-year break.
- One of Iceland's two remaining whaling ships departed Reykjavik this week.
- A protester attempted to disrupt the hunt by chaining himself to a vessel.
- Animal welfare groups criticize the hunt as inhumane and unnecessary due to low demand for whale meat.
- Iceland, Norway, and Japan are the only countries that openly permit whaling.
One of Iceland's two remaining whaling ships has set out to hunt whales, marking the resumption of the practice after a two-year hiatus. The departure from Reykjavik on Friday was met with protest, as an activist chained himself to the vessel before being escorted away by police. Animal welfare organizations have strongly condemned the move, citing the prolonged suffering whales endure during hunts and the lack of demand for whale meat within Iceland.