In the Faroe Islands, a practice known as the Grindadráp has taken place for centuries: whales 🐳 and dolphins 🐬 — mainly pilot whales and Atlantic white-sided dolphins — are driven toward the coast, forced ashore, and killed over the course of several minutes. Family groups are separated and die amid the blood of their parents, calves, and siblings. The few survivors are left behind, traumatized and alone.

This year alone, more than 800 animals have already been killed, including pregnant females and juveniles. Officially labeled as “tradition,” the hunt has in practice long since become industrialized, involving motorboats, sonar technology, and distribution and disposal by truck.

Leaving the health aspect aside (since that should neither justify nor condemn the taking of an animal’s life), the hunt no longer has meaningful nutritional importance for the population and exists primarily as a cultural practice.

What remains are colors no screen can faithfully reproduce, smells that cling to equipment for days, and the sounds of carcasses thrown from cliffs, exploding on impact with a force that shakes you to the core.

Sea Shepherd Global has been working for years to bring about change. The opportunity to apply pressure through the EU is greater than ever. The Faroe Islands, while self-governing but part of the Kingdom of Denmark, benefit from EU trade and programs without being bound by EU marine protection laws.

That needs to change.