Hundreds of dolphins to be slaughtered during annual Faroe Islands hunt

Hundreds of dolphins will be killed during an annual hunt off the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

The yearly cull, or grindadráp in Faroese, is a traditional practice dating back to the first settlement of the islands by Vikings more than 1,000 years ago. Dolphins, including pilot whales and white sided dolphins, are herded onto a beach and killed each year for their blubber and meat, which has triggered outcry among citizens in the island nation as well as activists around the world.

Faroe Island officials have repeatedly defended the hunt, arguing that it provides “valuable food” for the population. Still, a catch limit of 500 dolphins has been implemented after last year’s hunt saw 1,400 animals slaughtered in just one day. It’s believed to be the largest hunt of cetaceans — whales, dolphins and porpoises — ever recorded.

“An annual catch limit of 500 white-sided dolphins has now been proposed by the Ministry of Fisheries on a provisional basis for 2022 and 2023,” the government’s Ministry of Fisheries said in a statement.

“The government of the Faroe Islands continues to base its policies and management measures on the right and responsibility of the Faroese people to utilize the resources of the sea sustainably,” it continued. “This also includes marine animals, such as pilot whales and dolphins.”

In February, officials were forced to order a review of the practice after a petition with nearly 1.3 million signatures was submitted to the Faroese government, calling for an end to the tradition.