Why do they slaughter dolphins in the Faroe Islands?

The pilot whales were initially meant to be marked and released, but the islands’ Natural History Museum did not have enough staff available. Instead of releasing the dolphins back into the ocean, the whalers decided to slaughter them.

Do they eat the dolphins in Faroe Islands?

The Faroes (a semi-autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark) have a long tradition of hunting small whales and dolphins, with records dating back to 1584. The main target is the long-finned pilot whale, but both bottlenose dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins are also taken.

What happened to the dolphins in Faroe Islands?

The killing of 1,428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins in the Faroe Islands has sparked outrage among local people and attracted international criticism over the legitimacy of such hunts. The hunt was reportedly unauthorized and in violation of local Faroese law.

Why are dolphins hunted and killed?

By numbers, dolphins are mostly hunted for their meat; some end up in dolphinariums. Despite the controversial nature of the hunt resulting in international criticism, and the possible health risk that the often polluted meat causes, tens of thousands of dolphins are caught in drive hunts each year.

Who is killing dolphins?

The Japanese hunts are the biggest single slaughter of whales and dolphins in the world involving drive and hand-held harpoon hunts. It has been documented that some dolphins have taken more than thirty minutes to die. In Japan, curtains are pulled across the shoreline to hide the killing process from the public.

Why are they killing whales and dolphins?

Despite it being illegal in most countries, over 56 species of dolphins, porpoises and other small whales are killed in over 40 countries across the globe. They are killed for food, their body parts, and to be used as bait in other fisheries.

Who slaughtered 1500 dolphins?

The slaughter of more than a thousand dolphins as part of a traditional hunt in the Faroe Islands has sparked outrage from animal rights campaigners. Almost 1,500 Atlantic white-sided dolphins were killed with knives and harpoons during the hunt, known as Grindadráp by residents of the Danish islands, activists say.

Is killing dolphins illegal?

Harassing, harming, killing or feeding wild dolphins is prohibited under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972. The Act protects all species of dolphins, as well as other marine mammals such as whales and seals. WDC does not take these crimes lightly.

Why are dolphins killed in the cove?

The official reason Japan has given for the annual hunt is to use the dolphins for meat, but Dolphin Project says there are other reasons as well. “From the fishermen’s perspective, the dolphins eat too much fish, and the fishermen are simply killing the competition…

What is whaling and why is it controversial?

Commercial whaling means hunting whales to sell the things that come from whales, like meat, oil and blubber. It was banned in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) – a group whose job it is to look after whale conservation – after some species became almost extinct.

Why whales are killed?

Why do people hunt whales? Over a thousand whales are killed every year because some people want to make money from selling their meat and body parts. Their oil, blubber and cartilage are used in pharmaceuticals and health supplements. Whale meat is even used in pet food, or served to tourists as a ‘traditional dish’.

How many cetaceans are killed each year in the Faroe Island grind?

Nearly 1,000 cetaceans are slaughtered every year in the Faroe Island “grind” in the name of tradition. Not only is this practice cruel to marine animals, but it is also not safe for humans either. Toggle navigation

Why do people kill whales in the Faroe Islands?

According to many of the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands, whale killing is not a bloodsport, but rather a long-standing tradition that provides the islanders with much needed food. The Faroe Islands’ climate and geography is such that farming other potential sources of food is rather difficult.

Will the Faroese tradition of whale hunting become a practice of the past?

Between the health implications posed by eating whale meat and the growing pressure from activist groups and the international community, it may be that the Faroese tradition of whale hunting eventually becomes a practice of the past. Featured image: Dead whales lined up on the pier after the hunt in the Faroe Islands.

Why is the Faroe Islands being vilified?

It is a shame that such a beautiful place as the Faroe Islands, with its rich cultural aspects and very modern and connected infrastructure, is vilified because of the grind. Vilified it is, though, and only the Faroese can turn that around by ending the grind. Trade and tourism are likely to be victims of a continued grind.