Iceland allows whaling to resume in ‘massive step backwards’

Activists say that whales will still suffer agonising deaths despite new regulations and monitoring

Animal rights groups and environmentalists have described as hugely disappointing" the news that Iceland has given the green light for commercial whaling to resume, after a temporary ban introduced this year came to an end.

The Icelandic government said there will be tougher regulations in place - including better equipment, training and increased monitoring - but campaigners said these were pointless and irrelevant" because whales will still suffer agonising deaths. The hunted whales are shot with grenade-tipped harpoons.