CM to write to Faroe Islands about sea mammal "slaughter"

Thursday 15 June 2023

The Chief Minister will be writing to the Faroe Islands on behalf of Jersey to condemn the 'Grindarap' tradition which sees the slaughter of thousands of sea mammals every year.

The Grindadrap is a Faroese practice which may date back as far as the 9th century.

It occurs in the spring and summer periods, and sees whales, dolphins and porpoises driven into shallow bays where they are beached, killed and butchered. The meat is subsequently distributed to the Faroese community. 

Deputy Lyndon Farnham, who raised the issue in the States Assembly, asked his colleagues to officially condemn what he described as "the mass slaughter of whales and dolphins and the unacceptable and brutal method of killing."

Deputy Farnham's proposition also requested that the Chief Minister "communicate the view of the States Assembly to the United Kingdom Government and the Government of the Faroe Islands.”

That proposal was passed with 22 votes in favour this morning. The Chief Minister abstained from voting but said she would carry out the Assembly's wish.

Pictured: The Grindadrap is a traditional Faroese practice of whale hunting. 

Deputy Farnham first raised the issue in 2021 shortly after a 1,428-strong pod of white-sided dolphins were butchered at Skálabotnur beach. That year, he wrote to the Island Games association asking the Faroe Islands participation in the games be reconsidered. 

Following a lengthy debate, the States Assembly agreed to denouce the Grindagrap practice, with 22 members voting pour, 12 voting contre and 12 abstaining. 

Among those who challenged the proposition was Deputy Philip Ozouf, the External Relations Minister, who stressed Jersey's "strong an positive relationship with the Faroe Islands".

Whilst he agreed that the practice was "contrary to the values that are internationally accepted", he expressed a feeling that the "where possible, the best way to promote progress is through positive, constructive engagement with partners, not lecturing."

He worried that the proposition would set an "interesting and potentially problematic precedent." He voted against the proposition. 

Pictured: Deputy Farnham first brought up the issue in 2021, asking the Faroe Island's participation in the Island Games to be reconsidered. 

Likewise, the former External Relations Minister and current Deputy, Sir Philip Bailihache, argued that condemning the Faroese practice was not "an appropriate thing for a legislative assembly like the States of Jersey to do." 

He stated that while he personally disapproves of "lots of things that happen in foreign countries", such as bullfighting in Spain, he said: "If the Assembly starts passing resolutions to deal with each of the things which each of us individually might disapprove of, we will spend our entire time passing resolutions which are probably going to be, at the end of the day, otiose."

However, in his summing up, Deputy Farnham said: "What example do we set to the rest of the world if we do nothing, if we say nothing, what example are we setting?Not a very good one as far as I am concerned... a vote against this is a vote to allow the Grindadrap to continue."

No Ministers supported the proposition. However, Assistant Ministers Hilary Jeune and Louise Doublet did.

Alongside the Chief Minister, Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf abstained from the vote, as did the Ministers for International Development, Housing, Education, Treasury, Health, and Social Security.

In addition to the External Relations Minister, voting against were Deputy Chief Minister Kirsten Morel, Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet, and Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles. Assistant Chief Ministers Andy Jehan, Alex Curtis and Lucy Stephenson, and Assistant Ministers Malcolm Ferey and Rose Binet, also voted against.