A traditional whale hunt near the Faroe Islands recently left passengers on an Ambassador Cruise Line ship deeply disturbed. The hunt, known as grindadráp or "the grind," resulted in the deaths of 78 pilot whales, which are part of the dolphin family. The incident occurred on July 9th, and the cruise line has since issued a public apology, expressing their strong objection to the practice.
Ambassador Cruise Line emphasized their commitment to sustainability and their partnership with ORCA, a marine conservation charity. They acknowledged the distress the hunt caused their passengers and reiterated their dedication to protecting whales and dolphins. CEO Christian Verhounig highlighted the company's efforts to discourage the consumption of whale and dolphin meat among guests and crew.
The grindadráp is a recurring hunt in the Faroe Islands. Locals drive pods of whales into shallow waters where they are killed using knives and hooks. A 2021 hunt resulted in the deaths of 1,423 dolphins, prompting the Faroese government to set a limit of 500 for that specific species, but no overall cap exists.
A cruise ship can be seen in the background as the slaughter of pilot whales occurred close to the shore.
Blue Planet Society, an organization tracking these hunts, reported that the July 9th event brought the year's total to 650 whales killed. They urged the European Union and the U.K. to intervene.
The Faroese government defends the hunt as sustainable and regulated, claiming that only a small fraction of the whale population near the islands is hunted. They emphasize the non-commercial nature of the hunt, with the meat and blubber distributed within the local community.
