More blood has been shed on the shores of the Danish Faroe Islands in the second grindadráp (grind) of the year, in the same village where 43 pilot whales were slaughtered just three weeks ago.

At approximately 4pm yesterday, a pod of up to 200 pilot whales was spotted by locals on the island of Viðoy, before being pursued by 25 boats for over two hours to Hvannasund beach where 120 of the whales were killed. Hvannasund is one of 23 “approved killing beaches” in the Faroe Islands, where it is permitted for locals to slaughter pilot whales and dolphins.

“Pilot whaling is illegal. It is illegal in Europe, it’s illegal in Denmark, therefore it is illegal in the Faroe Islands. Denmark claims it is for the Faroe Islands to decide whether or not to stop whaling, but this is not true.” said Liesbeth Zegveld, attorney for Sea Shepherd. “The Faroe Islands are Danish territory, and Faroe citizens are Danish citizens. The Faroe Islands are not a federal state within Denmark. They only have a self-governing status allowed by Danish legislation that can be repealed and amended by Denmark.”

“We are currently in the process of establishing legal proceedings to take the Kingdom of Denmark to the European Commission and Danish courts.” Said Operation Bloody Fjords Campaign Leader and director of Sea Shepherd Netherlands, Geert Vons. “The Faroe Islands cannot enforce their laws protecting the practice of slaughtering pilot whales without the active support and force of the Danish police and military. It is blood that links Denmark and the Faroe Islands.”

Sea Shepherd has led the opposition to the grindadráp since 1983. The 2016 pilot whale defense campaign, Operation Bloody Fjords, sees Sea Shepherd take its battle against the grindadráp to the heart of the Faroese and Danish institutions that continue to promote this outdated practice.

RETURN TO OPERATION BLOODY FJORDS CAMPAIGN HOME PAGE