Dolphin cull in the Faroe Islands limited to 500 animals

Residents of the Faroe Islands are only allowed to kill 500 animals in the traditional dolphin hunt this year. This was decided by the Department of Fisheries after a record number of more than 1,400 animals were killed last year. Around the world there was a lot of commotion because of the big catch.

The Faroe Islands are located between Iceland, Norway and Scotland. They have an independent status within the Kingdom of Denmark and around 50,000 people live there.

Every year, the traditional “Grindadrap”, or pilot whale hunt, takes place on the archipelago. Dolphins and pilot whales get stuck with boats after which they run aground. Residents then walk through the water to kill the animals with knives.

Fishermen called last year’s record catch “a mistake”:

Around the world, the traditional killing of dolphins is attracting increasing resistance. Last year, after the record capture, some 1.3 million people signed a petition to end the annual massacre.

The island group government now appears to be responding to this with the catch limit. This is still a proposal, which should be approved by the end of this month.

The ministry says it is imposing the restriction because the catches are not sustainable in the long term. Opponents argue for a total abolition of pilot whale hunting, but authorities believe residents have the right “to use the resources of the sea in a sustainable manner”.

After slaughter, the meat and fat of the animals are used for consumption. They provide “low-carbon-footprint valuable food, which is distributed free of charge in the various communities where the captures take place,” the ministry said in a statement.

The catch limit applies for the next two years. After that, the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission will issue a dolphin catch advisory, after which the department will review the catch limit.