Northeast Iceland Hope Spot

On June 5th, 2023, Mission Blue named Northeast Iceland a Hope Spot in recognition of the area’s rich diversity of marine life, the brilliantly unique ecosystems they reside in, and the work of Hope Spot Champions Belén García Ovide, Dr. Charla Jean Basran, and Eva Björk Káradóttir to encourage formal protections for them.

Dr. Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, says, “In this area, just beneath the surface, [there is] a vibrant world of geothermal vents, upwelling currents, nutrient-rich waters, and a place where biodiversity proliferates in a dynamic environment. It provides a habitat for resident species and migratory pathways for others.” She adds, “I am so pleased to welcome Northeast Iceland as a Hope Spot.”

“Less than one percent of Iceland is formally protected,” explains Káradóttir, Director of the Húsavík Whale Museum and Hope Spot Champion. “We need a precedent in Iceland; a positive step.”

Iceland and its natural wonders have become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. By the end of 2022, 1.7 million tourists came to Iceland, more than 4.5 times the local population of Iceland. In 2023, it is predicted that more than 2.3 million tourists will visit the island nation (Ferdamalastofa, 2022).

Unfortunately, the threat to the quality of the environment remains since tourist activities are largely unregulated.

“The rapid increase of tourism in recent years collides with the lack of infrastructure to support the increase, especially in small towns”, explains Dr. Basran, whale researcher with Ocean Missions and Hope Spot Champion. 

Whale watching in particular has exploded in popularity.

Recently, tourism has challenged fishing as a main driver for Iceland’s economy. However, despite the moratorium by the International Whaling Commission in 1956, Iceland has been intermittently hunting minke whales and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) for both local consumption and export.

“We believe that in light of the increasing demand for whale watching in these local communities paired with the lack of regulations, the reinforcement of the Code of Conduct for whale watching operators is fundamental to achieving sustainable practices”, explains Dr. Basran. “This can be achieved by setting regulations in cooperation with Ice Whale (The Icelandic Whale Association), the whale watching communities, and the regional political bodies.”

The Champions believe that the Hope Spot designation will bring further opportunities for scientists to study local coastal ecosystems and ensure sustainable marine planning that will benefit the development of societies in harmony with nature.

“Most importantly, the implementation of the Hope Spot will create momentum to highlight the importance of marine protected ares and to contribute to the UN Sustainable Goal to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030”, concludes Káradóttir.

About  Ocean Missions 

Founded in 2019, Ocean Missions NGO aims to inspire people to become Ocean Ambassadors and take direct action towards ocean conservation, using an excellent combination of science, education and adventure, through citizen-science activities in Northeast Iceland and seasonal research expeditions in SubArctic and Arctic regions onboard the legendary hybrid-electric Schooner Ópal. We conduct periodic scientific surveys within sensitive conservation areas to gather valuable information for scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders about wildlife and the ocean’s health. We explore places of special scientific interest or remote locations with difficult access for other vessels. We pay special attention to marine debris pollution including fishing gear and plastics, and study its impacts on the marine ecosystem, all while spreading the message of the serious threats the oceans are facing and encouraging people to make a positive change. 

About  Húsavík Whale Museum 

Since 1998 the Húsavík Whale Museum has carried out and supported whale research in Skjálfandi Bay and has been educating the public on whales and the ocean ecosystem. The museum has over 8 exhibition rooms including whale evolution and biology and whaling history. It is one of the only museums in the world solely dedicated to whales. The museum has 11 skeletons on display including the blue whale. There are only a handful of full-size blue whale skeletons in the world. The museum also runs the Children’s Whale School, an educational program that aims to educate pupils of all school levels, from Kindergarten to University, about the whales and their life in Icelandic Oceans.