Cruise ship passengers on a luxury vessel that docked at a European island were horrified by a bloody sight. It was a gruesome waterfront where locals were slaughtering wild dolphins with knives and metal rods.
The sea was diluted with blood after 78 finned pilot whales were butchered by men at Torshavn, Faroe Islands. British cruise ship operator Ambassador Cruise Line shared a public apology on their social media account, acknowledging the Faroese Grindadráp as a “distressing occurrence.”
Conservationists argue the ship doesn’t belong there and companies need to take a stance against these violent practices. Rob Read, the chief operations officer at Captain Paul Watson Foundation U.K., said cruise companies need to boycott the Faroe Islands if they desire to stop killing whales.
“Cruise companies need to take a stand in support of ocean wildlife and remove the Faroe Islands from itineraries,” he said. “Their continued visits to the Faroe Islands inadvertently supports the abhorrent practice that is the Grindadráp.”
There were boats that began rounding up the long-finned pilot whales to shore and shortly after, activists witnessed locals with knives, waiting to kill the animals. After the dolphins were brought into the harbor, they were killed within 20 minutes.
Captain Paul Watson Foundation U.K. live-streamed the bloody sight and the clip revealed dolphins of all ages dead on the beach. There were also dead fetuses and calves inside bins.
Even though dolphin slaughter on the Faroe Islands is against the beliefs of international conservationists, locals believe their tradition is a natural way to harvest food. They argued that it’s a better alternative to factory-farmed meat.
“We are very proud of this practice and we will continue as long as we decide,” Faroese whale expert Bjarni Mikkelsen said.
The public reaction to the Ambassador Cruise Line’s apology has been mixed. Supporters of the Grindadráp have shamed the company for condemning the tradition. “You have done the unforgivable — as a guest spit into the face of the host,” one person wrote.
“If you don’t care for our culture or way of living why are you even coming to our islands?” another said.
Some people were supportive of the boycotting idea. “Stop having the Faroe Islands as a destination. Stop tourism to the Faroe Islands. End of story,” a person wrote.
“Take your tourism away from this place,” another added.