Pods of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins are driven into the shallow bays of the Faroe Islands and killed in a practice known as the Grindadráp.
In this new film, Sea Shepherd crews document a full Grind from start to finish—what the public sees, and what is left behind.
Inside the Grindadráp: Sea Shepherd crews document a full hunt—from the first call to what’s left behind.
Though legal under Faroese law and regulated locally, these hunts are not seasonal or formally scheduled—they occur whenever a pod is spotted. Most take place in summer as whales migrate, but some happen even in winter.
In early June, 291 pilot whales were killed in the village of Leynar, including more than 44 pregnant females and over 50 juveniles. Sea Shepherd crew were on the ground to document the hunt—capturing not only the violence of the event itself, but also the aftermath.
Officials claim the Grindadráp is a form of subsistence hunting—that the meat is shared, and nothing goes to waste. But our crew found clear evidence to the contrary: organs and meat suitable for human consumption were discarded, dumped down a ravine into the sea.
The Grindadráp falls outside the protections of the International Whaling Commission, which does not cover small cetaceans like pilot whales and dolphins. And while still legal under Faroese law, this footage raises serious questions about the justification for the practice—especially when entire pods are killed and edible meat is wasted.
Because entire family groups are driven and killed together, these hunts don’t just take individual lives—they risk eroding the genetic diversity of the species and weakening long-term population resilience.
Some ask why we don’t intervene by force. But doing so would not stop the killing—it would risk criminalization, loss of access, and irreparable damage to the global coalition we’ve built to challenge this practice through diplomacy, pressure, and documentation.
Our strategy is focused on lasting change: exposing the truth, engaging constructively, and creating space for Faroese voices who oppose the Grind to step forward. Many remain silent now, but we believe they are essential to ending this from within.
Watch the film to see what our Sea Shepherd crew witnessed—and the evidence they gathered to support our political action through the Stop the Grind Coalition. This footage is already being used to raise awareness and strengthen the campaign.
This article was first published by Sea Shepherd on 3 July 2025.
Wildlife in catastrophic decline
The 73% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations during the last 50 years (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish), is primarily driven by human activities that threaten biodiversity.
Habitat Loss and Degradation – human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats, reducing the space and resources available for wildlife.
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Climate Change – changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and sea levels are disrupting ecosystems and impacting species’ ability to adapt and survive.
Overexploitation of Resources – unsustainable hunting, fishing, and logging practices can lead to the depletion of populations and the loss of biodiversity.
Invasive Species – the introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, compete with native species, and threaten their survival.
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