The sei whale (*Balaenoptera borealis*) is a large baleen whale found in most of the world's oceans, recognized for its streamlined body and fast swimming speeds. Historically, sei whales were heavily targeted by commercial whaling operations due to their valuable oil and meat, particularly after populations of larger whales declined. Today, commercial hunting of sei whales is highly restricted under international agreements, but Japan remains the primary country that continues to hunt sei whales under the guise of scientific research and, more recently, resumed commercial whaling in its territorial waters after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 2019. Norway and Iceland, while active in whaling, primarily target other species such as minke and fin whales. As a result, Japan stands out as the top country currently harvesting sei whales, though the scale is much reduced compared to the peak years of 20th-century whaling.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 25 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.