The government hopes the increase in the number of kills permitted in coastal waters will make it easier for whalers to fulfill their hunt quotas.

Just over 500 minke whales were killed this year, even though the government had set an upper limit of 1,052 animals.

This year's quota was the largest since Norway resumed commercial whaling in 1993, despite an International Whaling Commission moratorium on the practice in place since 1986.

Whalers have said poor weather and high oil prices -- that have squeezed whaler's margins as they sometimes sail long distances in the search for whales -- have resulted in the low catch.

No whales were hunted off the island of Jan Mayen, almost 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the Norwegian mainland, even though the government allowed 443 whales to be hunted there. The 2007 limit has been set at 152.

"The government's quota policy creates the necessary conditions for the whaling sector to be profitable," president of the pro-whaling lobby group, the High North Alliance, Rune Froevik said.

Supporters of whaling argue that certain species, such as the minke, exist in sufficient numbers to allow a limited hunt.

Japan allows whaling, officially for scientific research.

Until recently Norway was alone in allowing commercial whaling. But in October was joined by Iceland which authorised a catch of 30 minke whales and nine fin whales through August 2007 for export.

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