The United States and European Union delivered a complaint to Iceland on Monday condemning an increase in whaling and pleading it to consider an international ban on the commercial hunting of whales.
"We call upon Iceland to respect the IWC's (International Whaling Commission) global moratorium and end its commercial whaling and international trade in whale products," read the text, according to Reuters.
The text was also signed by Israel and New Zealand.
In a joint move with nations like Australia, Mexico, and Brazil, the European Commission said its ambassador in Reykjavik delivered a diplomatic "demarche," or note, saying Iceland was harming efforts to save endangered species and wants it to stop trading whale meat, oil and other materials.
Iceland believes its policy on whaling has a scientific purpose and reflects effective management of marine resources. Whaling for research purposes is exempt from the 1986 international ban on commercial whaling.
"The whaling commission is long overdue to adopt reforms that will protect whales from so-called scientific hunts, which are in reality, a cover for the harvesting of whale meat," said Aimee Leslie, head of green group WWF's delegation at the meeting, according to AFP.
The North Atlantic island applied to join the EU five years ago when its economy was devastated by a global banking crisis. EU leaders said they don't expect to expand membership of the 28-naiton bloc anytime soon however.
"Public opinion in the countries that are Iceland's main trading partners is very much against the practice of whaling," the Commission said, according to Reuters.
The EU warned that whaling could damage its economy, through boycotts supported by its voters. It has not threatened government sanctions yet against Iceland.
"This is evidenced by the public pressure put on companies around the world to boycott Icelandic goods, not to mention the pressure that voters and various organizations put on their politicians, encouraging them to send Iceland an increasingly stronger message," the Commission said.
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