Regulation No. 163/1973 on whaling.

This regulation governs whaling in Icelandic waters and the landing and processing of whale catches, requiring a licence from the competent ministry and prior consultation with the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute before licences are granted. It sets conditions for whaling permits, including vessel eligibility, crew experience, approved training for gunners, weapons and equipment requirements, and methods intended to ensure rapid killing and minimise animal suffering. It prohibits the hunting of calves, lactating whales and females accompanied by calves, as well as certain protected whale species, and sets minimum size limits for fin whales and sei whales. The regulation also requires whale measurements, genetic tissue samples from each whale, marking and numbering of catches, keeping of detailed whaling logbooks, reporting to the ministry, official supervision by the Directorate of Fisheries, and compliance with Icelandic whaling law and the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. It also includes quota-related annexes for certain years and penalties for violations.