‘It Was a Massacre’
The cruise ship Ambition drove straight into the gruesome scene by complete accident. There were a total of 78 pilot whales slaughtered in the port. These animals are technically the largest members of the dolphin family.
Source: Blueworld/ Youtube
In 2021, the Island came under fire for the killing of more than 1,400 dolphins. At that time, the Faroese Whalers Association claimed it was accidental. In 2023 alone, The Faroe Islands have killed 646 whales, including the 78 that the Ambition witnessed.
Regular Whale Hunts
Unfortunately, whale hunts are not uncommon in this area. The cruise line made clear that they “strongly object to this outdated practice” and work with the ORCA charity which aims to protect whales from hunts such as these.
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However, the Faroe Islands have made their stance clear on the practice of whale hunting. This and other places have eaten pilot whale meat for centuries and the government has no plan to stop.
The Cruise Line’s Apology
The Ambassador of the cruise line explained that they are dedicated to sustainability and do not agree with the whale-hunting practice. They issued a formal apology to the hundreds of passengers who had to witness the gruesome scene.
Source: Reddit
The Ambassador stated, “Witnessing this local event would have been distressing for the majority of guests onboard. Accordingly, we would like to sincerely apologize to them for any undue upset”.
Whaling is Threatening The Species
The pilot whale species is threatened due to whaling activity. These animals live to be 35-60 years in the wild but human practices are killing them off before they live full lives.
Source: Youtube
Whaling, misplaced fishing gear, disease, and contamination in the waters have all lent themselves to decreased whale populations in the oceans. However, the Faroese government maintains its stance that the whaling practices are perfectly sustainable.