Reykjavík, Iceland — July 30, 2026 — Crew aboard the vessel, the Bandero, have been detained by the Icelandic Coast Guard following a high-seas interception during the 2026 Icelandic whaling season.
According to the foundation, the incident began Thursday after the Bandero made contact with the whaling vessel Hvalur 9, one of the last two active whaling ships operating in Icelandic waters. The Bandero deployed a small boat in an attempt to intercept the vessel as part of its anti-whaling campaign, ultimately driving the ship away from the whaling grounds.
Following this interaction, the Icelandic Coast Guard initiated a pursuit involving aircraft, helicopters, and a patrol vessel identified as Freya. As the Bandero moved toward international waters, Coast Guard personnel deployed smaller craft, boarded the vessel, and took control.
All crew members were detained, and the Bandero was escorted back to Reykjavík, Iceland.
The foundation states that crew members have now been held for more than 24 hours under conditions it believes raise serious legal and human rights concerns.
These allegations include:
• Denial of access to their chosen legal representation
• Prevention of communication with family members
• Their lawyer being refused permission to contact them
• Property seized without presentation of a warrant or seizure document
• Authorities reportedly stated they had a “special warrant” to search phones, but detainees say no warrant was shown.
• Detainees reportedly told they must surrender their phones and passcodes in order to make a phone call
• Failure to provide an official list of seized property
• Limited access to basic facilities, including showers
No injuries have been reported. The interception followed the Hvalur 9’s withdrawal from whaling grounds and return to port without taking any whales during the encounter.
The situation remains ongoing. The Foundation is calling for immediate access to legal counsel, prompt communication between the detainees and their families, transparency regarding the conditions of detention, and clarification from Icelandic authorities regarding the legal basis for the continued detention.
The Bandero was deployed to Iceland as part of Operation 86, the Foundation’s campaign to document and oppose the country’s final commercial fin whale hunt conducted by Kristján Loftsson’s company, Hvalur hf.
Throughout the campaign, the Bandero was closely monitored by the Icelandic Coast Guard. According to the Foundation, Coast Guard aircraft, helicopters, drones, patrol vessels, and other resources were repeatedly used to track the Bandero’s movements whenever it approached Hvalur’s whaling vessels.
The Foundation states that the Bandero was required to report its position to the Coast Guard every hour and continuously broadcast its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal. In contrast, the Foundation alleges that Hvalur’s whaling vessels were permitted to operate without transmitting AIS while actively hunting.
The Foundation further alleges that the Bandero’s reported positions were relayed by the Coast Guard to Hvalur’s vessels, enabling them to avoid contact with the conservation vessel.
A Season Marked by Pressure
According to the Foundation, the Bandero’s presence forced Kristján Loftsson’s fleet to repeatedly abandon hunting grounds and relocate operations to avoid detection.
As of today, approximately 32 fin whales and four fetuses have been killed during Iceland’s 2026 commercial whaling season. The Foundation notes this is significantly lower than previous seasons, citing 62 whales killed during the comparable stage of the 2018 season and 55 whales during the same period in 2022.
While multiple factors may have contributed to the reduced catch, the Foundation believes sustained monitoring at sea increased operational pressure on the whaling fleet throughout the season.
Public and Political Momentum Against Whaling
The 2026 season has unfolded amid growing political and public opposition to commercial whaling in Iceland.
The country’s newly elected centre-left government has committed to introducing legislation that would end commercial whaling, while a national referendum on European Union accession scheduled for 29 August has further intensified debate over the industry’s future.
This year’s hunt proceeded only after a last-minute permit was issued during the transition between governments—a decision that may not have been made under the current administration.
Public attention surrounding Operation 86 intensified in the weeks leading up to the Bandero’s arrival in Iceland’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation also launched a nationwide billboard campaign calling for an end to commercial whaling, generating significant public discussion across Iceland.
Separately, members of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK documented a Hvalur employee handling the genitalia of a dead fin whale at the company’s whaling station. The footage circulated widely in Iceland, drawing public criticism and renewed scrutiny of the whaling industry.
Regulatory Violations Under Investigation
While the Bandero remained at sea, members of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK monitored Hvalur’s operations from land, documenting multiple whale hunts and tracking the movements of the company’s vessels in Hvalfjörður.
Based on eyewitness observations, video evidence, and other documentation, the Foundation submitted evidence to the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST), alleging that Hvalur harpooned fin whales outside the legally permitted hunting area and that some whales were struck multiple times before death.
MAST has since released the findings of its initial investigation, confirming violations during Hvalur’s 2026 whaling operations and identifying instances of non-compliance with Icelandic regulations.
The Foundation has submitted additional evidence relating to other whales killed during the season.
Looking Ahead
With regulatory investigations continuing, public opposition growing, and political momentum building toward ending commercial whaling, the Foundation believes Iceland is approaching a pivotal moment in the future of its whaling industry.
Additional information regarding the seizure of the Bandero, including details of the Foundation’s response and next steps, will be released as it becomes available.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
