Whale jumps out of nowhere during sight seeing tour. Ambassador whale watching akureyri 2020 all you need. Visit the whales of iceland exhibition with lifesized models, an interactive installation and virtual reality experience. Blue whales, the largest mammals on earth, migrate into icelandic waters.
The current 5 year quota of 770 fin whales is considered unsustainable under iwc stock assessment methods. The blue whale is of immense size and has a long, slender streamlined body. Mar 01, 2018 when people think about whales in iceland their thoughts usually go to images of majestic leaping whales not surprising when iceland offers the best whale watching in europe. They may grow up to 30,5 m 100 ft and weigh as much as several elephants.
Call of the whale icelandic times iceland magazine. These range from one of the smallest marine mammals, the harbour porpoise, all the way up to the gigantic blue whale. Whale watching tours in iceland have an incredible success rate. Tell iceland to say no to whaling and yes to whale watching. Ambassador is a boat tour operator that offers a wide range of whale watching adventures on the fjord of akureyri and bay of reykjavik, year round. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling. Ambassador whale watching akureyri 2020 all you need to. We offer a range of whale watching and marine wildlife adventures, in both akureyri eyjafjordur fjord, north iceland and the faxafloi bay around the reykjavik area. Ambassador is a whale watching and tour company operating from akureyri and reykjavik, iceland. We depart from the old harbour in reykjavik, up to six times a day to meet and greet with those wonderful, mysterious creatures and explore the. Iceland s recent killing of whales, however, which sea shepherd captain paul watson said has numbered 27 fin whales since june 22, has tenuous legal ground but the icelandic justification for. The eus ambassador to iceland, matthias brinkmann, along with. Whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in europe. I had the incredible luck to film a blue whale during my last trip to iceland in akureyri.
Even in the winter time, iceland is one of the best places to watch whales. The north of iceland is known as the capital of whale watching. How to say whale in icelandic whats the icelandic word for whale. It is prohibited to download or copy the collection, but you are free to share a link to. In february 2019, the icelandic fisheries minister allocated a quota of 209 fin whales as well as 217 minke whales to be hunted each year until 2023 but in june it was announced that icelands fin whaling company, hvalur hf, would not be carrying out any whaling this year. People watching whales in ambassador boat with seascape horizon line and blue sky background in summer at akureyri coast, iceland. Iceland resumed largescale trade in whale products under reservation to japan in 2008. The orcas are apex predators, which mean that no other animal feeds on them, while the majestic sperm whale is the worlds largest predatory animal. Our traditional refurbished oak boat, knorrinn, was the first scheduled whale watching boat ever to sail in iceland. Any day now the first migrating blue whale might reach the waters of skjalfandi bay, likely staying for a short stopover to feast on the plankton and krill which the bay has to offer after all a blue needs about 5 tons of food a day whilst visiting its feeding grounds. If you think that you would fit into our team, please fill out the application form below and submit the requested documents. Especially in the north, you have very good chances to meet blue whales. Founded in 1993, we specialize in whale watching and sea angling.
You have probably heard that husavik is a great place for whale watching. Over the last two decades, iceland has become one of europes premier whale watching destinations. Because of certain underwater currents and perfect conditions for humback whales its a true paradise for whale watching and enjoying the beautiful nature surrounding this small friendly town in the north of iceland, they write in the video description. Today, iceland is one of a handful of countries that formally object clarification needed to an ongoing moratorium established by the international whaling commission in 1986, and that still. Iceland joined cites in 2000, and immediately took reservations to the listing of several species of whales, including fin and minke whales, on appendix i. These locations confirm, that whales are all around the coastline. Whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland elding. Whales and dolphins are at their greatest numbers during the summer months between april and october when the marine beasts come to feed on the plankton that thrives on the nutrientrich deposits of iceland s bays. The whales home the north of iceland is home to all the species. We are especially troubled by iceland s harvest of 125 fin whales in 2009, 148 fin whales in 2010, and 4 fin whales in 20, all of which are a significant increase from the seven fin whales harvested over the 20 years prior to 2009. Iceland will not hunt whales this summer for the first time in 17 years. Whaling in iceland began with speardrift hunting as early as the 12th century, and continued in a vestigial form until the late 19th century, when other countries introduced modern commercial practices. Icelands first ambassador to the united kingdom was petur benediktsson in 1941. From iceland and now, an hd video of whales in north iceland.
The caudal peduncle is extremely strong but the dorsal fin is small, situated to the rear of the back and only 30 cm high. Iceland will allow more than 2,000 whales to be killed. Elding is the original whale watching tour operator in reykjavik iceland, offering also sea angling, puffing watching and northern lights tours. These amazing shots were captured during a weekend of whale watching in the heart of whale watching, akureyri iceland. What an incredible animal, so beautiful and majestic. Surround yourself in history and visit the old village of hjalteyri, which has a population of 43 inhabitants. All our tours are constructed with passion, led by wildlife experts to deliver the ultimate whale watching experience. Get app whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition in. And although whale watching in iceland is growing, it is still far from being commercial. This man must be stopped from ruthlessly violating international conservation law. Call of the whale icelandic times iceland times iceland. Whale watching on the snaefellsnes peninsula guide to iceland.
This article provides everything you need to know about whale watching in ice land, plus some fun facts about whales in iceland. Whale watching hjalteyri iceland whale watching hjalteyri. Whale watching is an incredible experience for people of all ages. We offer a range of whale watching and marine wildlife adventures, in both akureyri eyjafjordur fjord, north iceland and the faxafloi bay around the reykjavik. The summer season in iceland gives you the opportunity to truly make the most out of one day. Job application gentle giants whale watching husavik, iceland. Embark on an unforgettable whale watching adventure and visit the gentle giants of the deep that live in the waters off the old and scenic village of hjalteyri.
Ambassador offers first class whale watcing boat the ambassador. Commercial trade in parts and products from species listed on appendix i is prohibited. The cool, clear north atlantic ocean encircling iceland is rich with food for whales of various sizes and species. Whales of iceland is the largest whales exhibition of its kind in the world. Hjalteyri whale watching try a unique whale watching tour from the charming village of hjalteyri, a well kept secret in the heart of north iceland, only a 15 minute drive from akureyri. The atlantic ocean, surrounding iceland, is a popular destination of whales in various shapes and sizes. Ambassador is a wonderful whale watching tour company that offers whale watching and marine adventure tours from. Ambassador is a highly reccommended specialist in whale watching tours. Experience the best iceland has to offer with spectacular whale watching opportunities. It is fast and agile and instantly recognizable by its pointed snout, streamlined body and white bands on its pectoral fins. In iceland, up to eleven different whale species can be observed.
With convenient location, excellent sighting rate and high quality service, the companies reputation grew fast and it quickly became one of the biggest whale watching companies in eyjafjord. Hauganes whale watching is the oldest whale watching tour operator in iceland. The minke whale is an inquisitive animal known to approach whale watching boats and swimming along side of vessels trying to keep up. Ambassador offers whale watching tours when weather conditions are favourable from both akureyri in north iceland and the capital, reykjavik. Whales of iceland uses cookies to give you the best experience when you visit our website, whalesoficeland. Ambassador to the whales see the whales from akureyri. Up to 23 different species of whales inhabit the waters of north iceland, including humpback whales, minke whales, and whitebeaked dolphins. Iceland will not hunt whales this summer for the first. The first night we had dinner in reykjavik we headed. Our whale watching tours explore the pristine waters in.
The eus ambassador to iceland, matthias brinkmann, along with the. Icelandic fishermen typically hunt minke and endangered fin whales in summer. Ambassador whale watching reykjavik the iceland activity guide. Come face to face with the worlds largest mammals on this halfday whale watching excursion from akureyri, icelands scenic northern port city. Reykjavik, iceland it was a whale sighting, but not the kind the visitors expected. Humpback whale photo id marine and freshwater research institute. Most common are minke whales and whitebeaked dolphins, but killer whales are also frequently seen. Seeing those beasts in all their glory is a magnificent experience. Most of the whale watching tours sail out from the old harbour in reykjavik as well as neighbouring areas in reykjanesb. Every whaling season, environmentalist and animal rights groups at home and abroad raise the alarm. Whale watching is as essential a part of any trip to iceland as seeing northern lights, hot springs and glaciers. The combination of diving in silfra followed by whale watching is a great way to get to know the many forms of one of icelands most prominent elements. Tours whales of iceland the largest whale exhibition. The boat is very nice and it is great to be able to go up to a second deck but we felt the crew was in a hurry to get back.
Iceland slaughters blue whale for first time in 40 years. Whalers cut open a 35ton fin whale in 2009, one of two caught by a hvalur crew off the coast of hvalfjsrour, north of reykjavik, on the western coast of iceland. Fury as new hunting season comes to icelandic waters mighty fin whales are to be killed for health supplements as a new season of hunting comes to iceland. From iceland 35 nations exhort iceland to end whaling. Ambassador whale watching offers exciting whale watching tours, marine wildlife and nature adventures at sea, including our famous northern lights cruises departing from reykjavik old harbour. Ambassador to the whales see the whales from akureyris specialised whale watching ship this is the second year of scheduled tours from akureyri with the ambassador whale watching ship. Since iceland resumed whaling in 2003 first under the guise of scientific whaling, later as commercial whaling greenpeace has worked to stop whaling in iceland, shares norman. Whale watching is operated from various locations around iceland. Enjoy whale watching from harbours all around iceland s coast many species of whales can be seen in the waters around iceland. Urge the government to support responsible whale watching instead of the cruel and unnecessary whaling industry.
Demarche against whaling by iceland iceland monitor. Whalers in iceland have been accused of slaughtering an endangered blue whale. The whale watching port in the north is akureyri and husavik. Most common whales seen around iceland are humpback whales, minke whales, blue whales, pilot whales, dolphins and fin whales. Jun 07, 2017 ambassador provides whale watching in reykjavik and akureyri whale watching is very popular amongst tourists who visit iceland, and whales can be seen all around the coast.
The minke whale is one of the most common whales in iceland. The cookies used on our website do not collect any personal information about you. Icelands current ambassador to the united kingdom is stefan haukur johannesson list of ambassadors. The company soon gained very good reputation and in early 2017 ambassador also started tours from the reykjavik harbor. One summer day off the coast of iceland, on a calm sea, a whaling crew towing freshly killed fin whales. Founded in 20, ambassador was the first whale watching company to operate tours from the town of akureyri in northern iceland. Whale watching reykjavik special tours 2020 all you.
Orcas, also known as killer whales, and sperm whales. The back is dark grey or bluish, the sides are mottled with in a paler bluish grey and the underside is of a lighter hue. Minimize your carbon footprint and join the electric sailboat opal for a green whale watching of a lifetime. Whale watching is a popular activity by visitors, a rare. The beautiful town of akureyri itself, full of old historic houses, is simply captivating. We are very proud of our staff which consists of both local and international people of all ages with various backgrounds and experiences. It began its journey in husavik over 20 years ago and has since sailed over 2. Whale hunting to return to iceland as conservationists. Whaletrips iceland the best tips for whale watching in. Why iceland gets away with killing massive, endangered whales. Team of iceland unlimited recommends all travelers and especially families to visit this spectacular museum iceland unlimited team visited whales of iceland museum in reykjavik, the largest whale exhibition in europe. List of ambassadors of iceland to the united kingdom wikipedia. Around 20 species of whale can be found in the sea surrounding the country but the most common are the beaked whale, the humpbacked whale, dolphins and a few others. Watching whales has become one of the most common activities among foreign visitors to north iceland.
Eu leads an international demarche against whaling by iceland. Jun 21, 2016 ambassador to the whales see the whales from akureyri. I went to iceland for my birthday and i went whale watching with ambassador in one of the rig boats and boy i wasnt disappointed. Our whale watching tours are constructed with passion and. They migrate from the south and are best seen from march to november, but should be visible all year. Download 276 whales iceland stock photos for free or amazingly low rates. All the year around youll be able to see a variety of whales by the coast, from the minke, humpback and killer whales to whitebeaked dolphins and harbor porpoises. As oldest whale watching tour operator in hauganes we offer a unique and best whales tour in their own habitat. Minke whales in iceland like humpback whales, minke whales are very frequently spotted all around the coast of iceland. Iceland slaughters blue whale for first time in 40 years, sparking anger among conservationists.
With convenient location, excellent sighting rate and high quality service, the companies reputation grew fast and it quickly became one of the biggest whale watching companies. The declining demand for both minke and fin whale meat has forced hvalur hf to dispose of excess whale meat creatively. But did you know that husavik is also the only place in iceland where. I recently took a trip to iceland and one of its many, many highlights was the seafood. Featured are 23 lifesize models of the species found in icelandic waters. Please write to geir haarde, icelands ambassador to the united states, to let him know that you are opposed to his country continuing to allow the killing of minke and fin whales.
This whale watching cruise offers the chance to spot the majestic creatures in their natural environment, as well as enjoying fishing and tucking into a delicious bbq dinner onboard. While the expected specialty dishes, such as arctic char and langoustine, were incredibly fresh, i want to talk bigger. Oct, 20 this was the second time we go whale watching, the first time was in husavik and i have to say that the tour with the ambassador was not as good. Everything about whale watching in iceland and whaling. Ambassador is a whale watching company operating in the heart of whale watching, akureyri, iceland. Whale watching is a popular, cheap and fun activity to do in iceland. While it is true that culpability for letting whaling happen does rest upon many different offices, there is only one company left that still hunts protected fin whales. Genetic material from a large whale killed off the coast of iceland has confirmed the creature was a rare hybrid. Step aboard an old fishing boat that has found a new role as a whale watching vessel, taking guests on quiet sailing excursions in the fair winds and calm seas of eyjafjor. Iceland will allow more than 2,000 whales to be killed in. The high peak season for whale watching is from april to october, but of course the ocean is always full of adventures. Whales of iceland types of whales arctic sea tours. This will be the first year one can hop on a scheduled tour from akureyri with the ambassador. May 30, 2018 every year by the end of may a wellknown excitement is spreading over the bay and harbour area of husavik.
Whales iceland stock photos download 276 royalty free photos. Our whale watching tours explore the pristine waters in northern and southwestern iceland and their. Ambassador whale watching ambassador was founded by the whale watching enthusiast, captain magnus gudjonsson in 20 in the town of akureyri in northern iceland. Iceland will allow more than 2,000 whales to be killed in next five years iceland is one of a few countries that shirks an international ban on commercial whaling. During my last trip to iceland i got the amazing chance to film a blue whale with my dji phantom 4. Blue whale season has started gentle giants whale watching. We are located in the capital of the north of iceland, akureyri. Whale watching is also available from the reykjavik harbour. We operate from the heart of the town, basically in the city.