It seems bizarre that a government would sanction the killing of dolphins, but that is what the Faroe Islands have precisely done. As a part of their annual whale cull, they have set a quota for no more than 500 dolphins to be hunted by fishermen.
Though this cull has historic roots in the islands’ Viking past and is claimed to be a source of food for the Faroe people, it doesn’t take much thought to see this as an inhuman and anachronistic practice.
The quota itself is questionable, with no real penalty or enforcement for exceeding the five-hundred murder mark. There have also been reports of undue and cruel mtehods in hunting the mammals– such as stalking pods of dolphins for long periods of time or not having enough people to euthanize them once they have been beached.
Even then, the organized killing of these creatures seems wrong. Surely there are other means of procuring foods such as accepted fishing or livestock, imported or otherwise. Whales and dolphins are among the more critically endangered species on the planet and it is vital these gentle giants be left alone.
If anything, it just seems bizarre that there is a quota in the first place. Though it may be seen as an attempt at being environmentally compliant or as a way to mollify world organizations, it is certainly just a band-aid solution.
This is especially true given that in 2021, more than 1,400 white-sided dolphins were killed during the cull– a number that seems to excessive to be covered under the excuse of providing food.
Dolphins are not cattle. They are not raised and repopulated in a controlled environment for the express purpose of feeding the people, they are wild animals of a free ocean– and make no mistake, the ties to Viking tradition proves they are being hunted for sport.
As the most advanced species on the planet, we owe a responsibility to protecting it and our fellow creatures. Rather than a quota, the Faroe government shouldn’t be allowing dolphin hunting at all.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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