Letter to the Danish Government calling for an end to whale and dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

13 Oct 2021

On the 12th of September more than 1,400 whales and dolphins were herded into shallow waters and killed as a result of the practice of dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands. The Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals wrote a letter to the Danish Government calling for a ban to this cruel practice.

intergroup logo

Brussels 13 October 2021

To the Honourable Danish Government,

On 12 September 2021, a large pod of 1428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins was herded in the Skálafjördur, the longest fjord in the Faroe Islands, where the animals were brutally killed. Upsetting images of the dolphin slaughter spread around the world.

Considering that the Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Leucopleurus acutus) appears on the CITES list of endangered species, the mass slaughter in September was completely out of line.

We, the Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals of the European Parliament, strongly believe that dolphin and whale hunting should be discontinued because of the cruelty involved and the harm it represents to the biodiversity of the region.

This position is backed by the European Parliament. In its recently adopted report on the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 the House calls on the Faroe Islands to stop its controversial hunts on pilot whales, and calls on the European Commission and Member States to continuously engage with the Faroe Islands on this issue with a view of abolishing the practice.

Hunting endangered animal species contravenes international agreements on wildlife protection which are also binding for Denmark and the Faroe Islands.

We strongly condemn what happened once again during the dolphin hunt in September and call for a careful review of policies regarding the Grindadràp in the Faroe Islands. The review should result in ending this harmful practice.

We look forward to your reply,

Respectfully yours,

Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP

Honorary President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Anja Hazekamp MEP

President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Michal Wiezik MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Francisco Guerreiro MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Sarah Wiener MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Petras Auštrevičius MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Manuela Ripa MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Emil Radev MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Eleonora Evi MEP

Vice-President of the Animal Welfare Intergroup

Tiziana Beghin MEP