The Icelandic Minister of the Environment, Energy, and Climate, Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, has announced the reindeer hunting quotas and permit prices for 2025. Following recommendations from the Icelandic Nature Conservation Institute, a total of 665 reindeer will be allowed to be hunted during the 2025 season—265 cows and 400 bulls.
This marks a significant reduction of 135 animals compared to 2024, reflecting a continued decline in the reindeer population.
Declining Population Raises Concerns
While the exact cause of the population decline remains unknown, one possible factor is increased hunting pressure in previous years due to an overestimation of the reindeer population. Despite the decline, there are no signs of deteriorating animal health, reproductive failure, or significant increases in non-hunting mortality.
However, as a precautionary measure, the hunting quota has been steadily reduced since 2019, when 1,451 reindeer hunting licenses were issued. The 2025 quota of 665 animals represents a drop of more than 50% in just six years.
Hunting Season and Regulations
The hunting season is divided by gender:
- Bulls: July 15 – September 15
- Cows: August 1 – September 20
To minimize the impact on reindeer calves, hunters are strongly encouraged to avoid shooting calving cows during the first two weeks of the season and instead prioritize castrated cows. Registered guides play a crucial role in assisting hunters in selecting their prey responsibly.
Additionally, calves and winter-old reindeer remain fully protected from hunting, meaning only reindeer two years or older can be hunted. The hunting permits are subject to review in case unexpected changes occur in the population before or during the hunting season.
Fee Increases and Financial Considerations
Hunting fees have been significantly increased for 2025, with the cost of a bull permit raised by 20% to ISK 231,600 and a cow permit increased by 19% to ISK 132,000. This is well above the general inflation rate of 4.6%. The minister justified this increase, emphasizing that the hunting fees should fully cover the costs of monitoring, managing, and regulating of reindeer hunting, rather than drawing from other public funds.
The revenue from hunting permits is used for:
- Supervision and management of the hunt
- Monitoring reindeer populations to determine sustainable hunting quotas
- Compensation to landowners for disturbances caused by reindeer and hunters
Given the reduced quota, it became clear that previous fee levels were insufficient to cover these costs, prompting the fee hike.
Future Management and Protection Plans
In light of the declining reindeer population and concerns raised by stakeholders and professional institutions, the Minister has announced plans to develop a reindeer management and protection strategy. This initiative will focus on:
- Reassessing hunting area boundaries
- Setting long-term population management goals
- Addressing other issues identified by experts and stakeholders
The preparation of this plan is set to begin in spring 2025, with input from relevant institutions and interest groups.
Minister's Statement
Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson summarized his position, stating:
"The reindeer hunting fee must cover the costs of monitoring and managing the hunt. It was never considered that public funds should finance reindeer hunting arrangements. That would contradict the government’s policy on natural resource management and fiscal responsibility. Raising the fee ensures that hunting remains sustainable and properly regulated. Moreover, the upcoming management and protection plan will play a key role in addressing the challenges facing Iceland’s reindeer population."
With hunting quotas shrinking and management policies evolving, Iceland’s reindeer hunting landscape is undergoing significant changes. These measures aim to balance conservation efforts with sustainable hunting practices, ensuring that reindeer populations remain stable for the future.
Source:Stjórnarráðið / Umhverfis-, orku- og loftslagsráðuneytið
Map: Arctic Portal
Related news:
Reindeer Hunting quotas 2024 in Iceland unusually low
Sustainable reindeer hunting in Iceland
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