Status: 15.09.2021 7:01 p.m.
The killing of more than 1,400 dolphins off the Faroe Islands has caused horror and criticism. The islands government defends the hunt – the animals were effectively killed.
The dolphins were driven into shallow waters by boat and killed there. This type of hunting has been around in the Faroe Islands for hundreds of years – more whales are typically caught than dolphins. But last Sunday it was different: More than 1400 dolphins were driven into a bay by the hunters.
“Hard to defend”
Sjurdur Skaale is a member of the Danish Parliament for the Faroe Islands and was horrified: “What went wrong this time was that the group of animals was far too large and the number of people on the beach far too small, which is why it took so long Lasted and the animals suffered. What we saw is difficult to defend. “
A look at the statistics of the responsible ministry shows: In the past 20 years never so many dolphins have been killed, not even to the point.
The number of over 1,400 dolphins killed this year was exceptionally high.
Image: Bjarni à ?? rting Rubeksen
Sea Shepherd fears meat disposal
The environmental organization Sea Shepherd had published a video from the weekend. The chairman from Germany Manuel Abraas says: “It is the largest massacre of marine mammals that has ever been documented. All of this meat can very probably not be consumed by the Faroe Islands. One has to assume or fear that the majority will be disposed of or because of me disappears in some bays. “
Fisheries Minister rejects criticism
The responsible Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries of the Faroe Islands assesses the killing of the dolphins very differently. He referred to legal requirements for hunting, for example all hunters need licenses.
In an interview with local media, Jakob Vestergaard emphatically denies that the animals suffered particularly this time. “I asked the people in charge I know and they said everything went well. Of course it takes time to kill so many dolphins, but every single dolphin was killed effectively and quickly.”
The hunt is known as “Grindadrap” and has been practiced for centuries on the largely autonomous islands in the North Atlantic, which are part of the Danish kingdom.
Image: Bjarni à ?? rting Rubeksen
Violent discussions about this hunt
The many dead animals, the sea colored red with blood – this has also sparked intense discussions on the Faroe Islands. The power of images is enormous, according to the chairman of a local hunting association. They could mean the end of traditional hunting.
The MP Skaale also points out that the issue is very emotional for the residents. Although there is still a clear majority in favor of whaling, many would oppose the killing of dolphins.
The images of the bloody carcasses caused great outrage. The environmental protection organization Sea Shepherd described the practice as “barbaric”.
Image: Bjarni à ?? rting Rubeksen
Comparison with pig killing
Skaale thinks that more differentiation is needed in the discussion: “It’s like an open-air slaughterhouse. You can see the blood, the sea is colored red, you can see the death twitches of the whales. But what happens in the slaughterhouse? The same, but hidden behind thick walls. Pigs are also very intelligent animals. Therefore, it is morally better to eat whale meat than pork. “
Traditional whale hunting in the Faroe Islands has been criticized for years. It remains to be seen whether the international attention will change anything this time.
Much criticism after a bloody dolphin hunt on the Faroe Islands
Sofie Donges, ARD Stockholm, September 15, 2021 6:04 p.m.