Every year, hundreds of whales and dolphins are brutally slaughtered as part of the Grindrarap, a centuries-old hunting tradition in the Faroe Islands. Here, we look at how and why the Faroe Islands whale hunt takes place. We also share how World Animal Protection is campaigning to stop Grindadrap and striving to prevent the needless suffering of dolphins and whales slaughtered in the Faroe Islands.
What is the Grindadrap?
The Grindadrap (also known as the Grind) is a tradition of whale killing on the Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean, with its own government and a population of around 55,000 people.
The Grindadrap tradition involves the hunting of pilot whales and, sometimes, dolphins. These marine mammals are herded into shallow waters where they are cruelly killed.
When does the Grindadrap happen?
There’s no fixed date for the Grindadrap, and a hunt can take place at any time of year. However, Faroe Islands whale hunts usually occur between June and October, when weather conditions are favourable. The local community organises the hunts, which can occur spontaneously when someone spots a pod of whales or dolphins.
Grindadrap tradition and history
The Grindadrap tradition dates back to the 9th century, when pilot whale meat provided an important source of food.
Still today, the Faroe Islands' pilot whale killing and the eating of whale meat are considered integral to Faroese cultural identity — though pilot whale meat is so contaminated with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that the Faroese government advises people to limit their intake.
These cultural justifications are used to defend the Grindadrap. But at World Animal Protection, we don’t believe that anything excuses the cruelty of the Grindadrap hunt.
As Gitte Buchhave, Director of World Animal Protection Denmark, says: “Claims that these hunts are part of cultural heritage do not justify the senseless slaughter of sentient animals. Culture should never be used as an excuse for cruelty.”
Faroe Islands whale hunt in numbers
The Faroe Islands whale hunt kills hundreds of whales and dolphins every year.
According to Grindadrap tradition, long-finned pilot whales are the primary target of the hunt. These are a type of toothed whale that measures up to 6 metres long. Dolphins — including Atlantic white-sided dolphins and bottlenose dolphins — are also caught and killed.
During the Faroe Islands whale hunt, pods of terrified whales or dolphins are herded by motorboats into shallow waters. Once they’ve beached on the shore, hunters sever the spinal cord of these marine mammals using a double-edged blade. The animal’s neck is then cut open, causing it to bleed out, and the ocean to turn red with blood.
In the worst years, more than 1,000 marine mammals and whales were slaughtered in the Faroe Islands. Here are a few sobering statistics from Grindadrap festival history:
- More than 1,200 pilot whales were caught in a single season in 2017.
- Nearly 1,430 white-sided dolphins were caught and killed in a single day in September 2021.
- 246 pilot whales, including 30 pregnant females, were slaughtered in June 2025.
- More than 20,000 dolphins and small whales have been killed over the last 20 years.
How to stop the Grindadrap
Over the years, World Animal Protection has consistently challenged the claim that the Grindadrap is culturally justified or in any way humane. We have exposed the suffering that the hunt and subsequent killings cause to the whales and dolphins involved.
But we understand that change has to come from within. We continue to lobby the local government to ban the Faroe Islands whale hunt and stop the persecution of these majestic marine mammals.
We’re also raising awareness of marine mammal sentience. We hope that as more people — including Faroe Islanders — appreciate and understand these animals, they’ll do more to protect and defend them.
We’re optimistic that public opinion on the Faroe Islands can shift. After the killing of over 1,400 Atlantic white-sided dolphins in 2021, 70% of the Faroese population said they oppose dolphin hunting.
A large proportion are still in support of killing whales in the Faroe Islands. But, with time and ongoing whale and dolphin conservation campaigns, we’re hopeful that we can stop Grindrarap once and for all.
Take action for whales
Protect pilot whales from the brutal Faroe Islands whale hunt and other ocean threats. Subscribe to WAP emails for updates and support our mission — donate today to help end the Grindadrap and keep whales safe in the ocean.
Frequently asked questions about the Grindadrap
What species are hunted during the Grindadrap?
Pilot whales are the primary target during the Faroe Islands Grindadrap. Other species are also hunted, including the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, the common bottlenose dolphin, and the white-beaked dolphin.
Is the Grindadrap legal?
Yes, the Grindadrap is legal, though there are some restrictions in place. For example, the Faroese government has banned the use of spears and harpoons and has put an annual limit on the number of dolphins that hunters are allowed to catch.
However, these restrictions do little to prevent the pain and suffering of the dolphins and whales slaughtered in the Faroe Islands every year.
Why does the Grindadrap continue?
The Grindadrap tradition continues because it is a long-standing ritual on the Faroe Islands. Supporters often compare it to the slaughter of farm animals, even calling whale meat “free range.” But this justification ignores the cruelty and suffering involved. Whales and dolphins are sentient, social beings who belong in the ocean — not hunted and killed on the shoreline. And in today’s world, with accessible food alternatives, continuing this hunt cannot be defended as necessary or sustainable.
How can people help stop Grindadrap?
We can stop Grindadrap by raising awareness of whale and dolphin sentience. We can also lobby the Faroese government to ban dolphin and whale killing in the Faroe Islands.
