the past they made an important contribution to the Isl<strong>and</strong>ers’ survival in the harsh conditions ofthese isolated isl<strong>and</strong>s. Hundreds of dolphins <strong>and</strong> porpoises are also often killed. Today, however, theFaroese people enjoy a st<strong>and</strong>ard of living at least as high as that of any other country in Sc<strong>and</strong>inavia.The consumption of pilot whales is, therefore, thought to be no longer necessary for survival, but thehunt continues. This is despite the Faroese Health Department’s recommendations to substantiallylimit consumption of pilot whale meat <strong>and</strong> blubber because of the high levels of toxins in the tissue,which has been directly associated with developmental problems in some children on the Isl<strong>and</strong>s. Theadvisory notice issued in 1998 warns females expecting to have children in the future not to eat pilotwhale meat at all (Anon 1998).Until 1979, the Faroe Isl<strong>and</strong>ers killed about 800 pilot whales each year. In the early 1980s theaverage number of whales killed increased to over 2,000 per year with 2,909 being killed in 1981(Zoological Department, Museum of Natural History, Faroe Isl<strong>and</strong>s 2000). At the same time, theFaroese economy was booming as a result of the implementation of the Faroe Isl<strong>and</strong>’s 200 mileEconomic Exclusion Zone (EEZ), although the need for pilot whale meat <strong>and</strong> blubber is thought tobe increasingly unnecessary to the Isl<strong>and</strong>ers’ survival. No research was carried out into thesustainability of this dramatic increase in hunting. As a result of international pressure <strong>and</strong> concernsabout high levels of pollutants found in the meat <strong>and</strong> blubber, the numbers killed each year droppedin the 1990s to below 1,000 whales.Killing methodsThe pilot whale hunt is governed by the Faroese Pilot Whaling Regulations, dating back to 1832 <strong>and</strong>which has been periodically updated (Gibson-Lonsdale 1990). The regulations were not developed toaddress the welfare aspects of the hunt, but to bring about reorganisation so that this resource couldbe more fully utilised. As a result of international pressure, some changes to the regulations wereintroduced in the mid-1980’s in an attempt to make the hunt less cruel, including the banning of theuse of the spear (Olsen 1999).THE SMALL CETACEAN DIMENSION57When a herd of pilot whales is sighted offshore, permission is sought from the local sheriff to bringthe whales into one of the 23 authorised whaling bays. A group of boats gathers in a semi-circlebehind the whales <strong>and</strong> drives them towards the shore. The drive quickens as the whales approach theshore, in an effort to beach as many as possible. Those whales that are not beached will eitherflounder in the shallows or swim in the deeper water, prevented from escaping by the boats in thebay, <strong>and</strong> perhaps also by the bond that they have with the rest of their school. The aim is to kill theentire herd, although sometimes a few individuals will not be killed.The whales are struck with a sharp-ended steel traditional whaling hook weighing around 2kg. Thehook is driven into the whales flesh in order to secure them. The whales in the shallows, or in deeperwater are hauled several metres onto the shore by ropes attached to the hooks. Some whales arehauled by a recently developed round-ended hook which is inserted into the blowhole (Olsen 1999).A sharp knife with a blade 16-19cm long is used to cut through the skin, blubber <strong>and</strong> flesh to severthe spinal column <strong>and</strong> the blood supply to the brain in order induce loss of sensibility, <strong>and</strong> to bringabout death as a result of blood loss (Olsen 1999). A new knife is also being tested, which has a longslim blade designed to sever the blood supply to the brain <strong>and</strong> the spinal cord with one incision.(Foreign Department, Faroe Isl<strong>and</strong>s 2003). However, the new knife requires greater precision to be
effective, <strong>and</strong> whalers are likely to need to be specifically trained to use this knife effectively. Oncethe slaughter is complete, the whales are moved to a quay for counting, measuring, butchering <strong>and</strong>distribution among the hunters <strong>and</strong> the local community (Gibson-Lonsdale 1990).Evaluation of killing methodThe Faroese government records the numbers of pilot whales killed <strong>and</strong> some information on thelength of drives <strong>and</strong> the total duration of kills. It does not, however, analyse each hunt, or recordtimes to death for each individual animal.As a result of criticism of the cruelty of the hunt <strong>and</strong> in particular the use of the traditional steelhook, the Faroese government appears to have recognised that the hook must be phased out(Department of Fisheries, Faroe Isl<strong>and</strong>s 1991). A new blunt-ended hook was developed which isplaced in the air sac in the whale’s blowhole to secure <strong>and</strong> haul it (Olsen 1999). Although the newhook produces no visible bleeding, there has been no published post mortem research on the effectsof the hook in the blowhole, but it is likely that there is tissue tearing <strong>and</strong> the possibility of bleedinginto the lungs resulting from the hauling by the hook. This hook may also hinder breathing, causingan obstruction to the airway <strong>and</strong> forcing the blowhole to stay open. By extrapolating humanexperience <strong>and</strong> findings for airway obstruction in other mammals, it seems probable that the hookwould produce a ‘gagging’ response, <strong>and</strong> may induce a ‘panic’ response. Meanwhile, the traditionalwhaling hook has not been phased out (Olsen 1999).58A REVIEW OF THE WELFARE IMPLICATIONS OF MODERN WHALING ACTIVITIESSeveral other factors contribute to the potential for cruelty of the Faroese pilot whale hunt.1. Pilot whales may be driven several miles to the nominated bay. There has been no assessment ofstress myopathy or any other impact of the drive on the whales. The distance <strong>and</strong> duration of thedrive combined with the noise of the boats <strong>and</strong> drivers may cause confusion <strong>and</strong> stress to themembers of the herd <strong>and</strong> may have long-term implications for any survivors.2. Pilot whales live in close communities with strong bonds between the individual members of theherd, most of whom are blood relatives (Amos 1993). It can take tens of minutes or even hours tocomplete the slaughter of the herd. During this time individuals are swimming in seawater filledwith the blood of their relatives or closely bonded companions. They are also subjected to thechaos of the killing <strong>and</strong> almost certainly to the distressed communications from their familymembers <strong>and</strong> companions.3. Several factors may result in repeated strikes <strong>and</strong> wounding before the steel hook is secured in thebody of the whale:• The striker may be st<strong>and</strong>ing on the shore, on rocks, in the shallows or wading in waist deepwater.• The whale may be struggling on the shore, floundering in the shallows or swimming in thedeeper water increasing the difficulty of making a successful strike.• The boats <strong>and</strong> whales may cause turbulence, destabilising the striker.• The skin of the whale is very smooth <strong>and</strong> wet <strong>and</strong> may cause the hook to slip.• During the hauling, the hook may loose purchase <strong>and</strong> be struck into the body again.4. The hauling of the whales by the hook attached to the rope is likely to cause pronounced traumato the tissues of the blowhole, contributing to the suffering of the animals. No evaluation,
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ForewordWhales are highly evolved a
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1 Executive SummaryThis review exam
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skin samples, without the need for
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IWC (2001) Report of the Scientific
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Whales and the lawCetaceans (and wh
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scientific and technical committees
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ASCOBANS came into force in 1994. F
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The Treaty of the Panama Canal, ena
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2 As a result, their need for prote
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law says, but also the extent to wh
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15 Whaling and welfarePhilippa Brak
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commercial whaling. Times to death
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eath). Using the current criteria t
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possibility of establishing a simil
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international customary law and exi
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16 Summary of conclusionsModern day
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Glossary136A REVIEW OF THE WELFARE
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138A REVIEW OF THE WELFARE IMPLICAT
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Appendix IIColour plates©Mark Voti
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142A REVIEW OF THE WELFARE IMPLICAT
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Figure 13. Processing minke whales