Reykjavik  - Iceland was set to keep its increased whaling quota for the coming year, Fisheries Minister Steingrimur J Sigfusson said Wednesday.

The raised annual quota of 150 fin whales and 100 minke whales was announced at the end of January shortly before former Fisheries Minister Einar K Gudfinnsson left office.

Sigfusson added that it was not certain that Iceland would keep the quota for the coming five years as his predecessor had suggested.