User:Suzanne Kelly/sandbox/Faroe Islands Whale Hunt 'The Grind'

Faroe Islands Whale Hunt 'The Grind' new article content ...

The Faroe Islanders participate in a hunt known as the grind where cetaceans are driven ashore and after the exhausting hunt, are hacked to pieces. This is apparently a source of pride to them, and they are adamant their grind will continue.

This hunt continues despite the health risks of eating the resulting meat; which is considered unsafe, even by the Faroese Government. Earth Race Conservation says:

"There are very well researched and documented health risks associated with eating whale products. Even the Faroese Government have officially recommended that no-one should eat more than a maximum of 4kg a year for an adult. Women planning on having children should refrain from eating blubber, and those who are already pregnant should avoid eating whale altogether."

If the Faroese were following their own government consumption guidelines, they would not take so many animals. This photo is of 20-30 pilot whales, brutally slaughtered in the Faroe Islands c 30 June 2015 (Photo: Sea Shepherd/Rosie Kunneke)

Whales and dolphins are very intelligent, social animals which live in social groups; they learn and are able to pass their learning on to others. Sea Shepherd has tried to stop this hunt, thought by many to be barbaric. In a press release dated 29 June 2015, Sea Shepherd wrote of one recent grind:-

"For the second time this season, the waters of the Faroe Islands are red with the blood of slaughtered pilot whales, killed in the infamous drive hunt know by the Faroese term grindadráp or grind.

"The pod was spotted at approximately 0830 local time this morning. The pilot whales were then driv"en to Hvannasund in the north of the island archipelago, where they were eventually slaughtered.

"Sea Shepherd estimates that between 20 and 30 pilot whales were killed in the slaughter.

"The Sea Shepherd ship, Brigitte Bardot, was patrolling approximately 25 nautical miles to the south of the region where the whales were spotted and was not able to reach the area in time.

"Operation Sleppid Grindini Land Team Leader, Rosie Kunneke of South Africa, said, “Another harrowing, bloody massacre has been allowed to occur, under the protection of the increasing police state in the Faroe Islands. While authorities ramp-up grind laws and penalties, which require even those visiting the islands to partake in this brutal slaughter, Sea Shepherd remains on watch. We will not let the screams of these magnificent, slaughtered animals go unheard.”

"According to Faroese laws that govern the grindadráp, any person visiting the islands must report all sightings of whales and dolphins to local authorities so that the cetaceans can be targeted for slaughter. Those who do not abide by these laws may face arrest and prosecution, with penalties of 25,000 Faroese króna or just over 3,000 euros, and imprisonment of two years.

"CEO of Sea Shepherd Global and Operation Sleppid Grindini Campaign Leader, Captain Alex Cornelissen, said, “There is something truly sinister about a law that aims to silence those who fight to protect life, while protecting those engage in this blood-thirsty practice. It is this exactly this ominous state of affairs in the Faroe Islands that requires Sea Shepherd’s presence in the region.”

Tourists should be aware of the risks they face for not reporting any cetaceans they see, and should be aware that their tourism helps support the Grind.