EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW: Scubaverse talks with Brendan Kelly of Sea Shepherd about their campaign to stop the continued whale and dolphin slaughter in the Faroe Islands

Published 12 years agoon February 20, 2014

THIS IS HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE FAROE ISLANDS ENJOY THEIR FREE TIME.

Are you thinking of a holiday in the Faroe Islands this year? If you’re passionate about Marine Life and Conservation, you might want to think again, says Jeff Goodman…

They call it tradition; they call it a gift from god. But it’s not. It’s archaic, it’s barbaric, it’s sickening and it’s totally unnecessary. The Faroese call it the ‘Grind’. I call it shameful. Each year thousands of Whales and Dolphins are herded onto the shores of the Faroe Islands and butchered in the most stressful and painful way imaginable. Whole pods and family groups are terrorised by people looking for a bit of entertainment.

The Faroe Islands lie north of Scotland, half way between Norway and Iceland. The hunt was believed to have begun in the 15^th century. Maybe it had purpose then. Food and oil to help mans survival. Today there is no need for either. In fact Whale meat, along with that from other marine species is positively not good for consumption as it holds high levels of PCB chemicals and Mercury – a legacy from our continual dumping of toxic waste at sea.

Today the Faroes is one of the wealthiest countries per capita in Europe. They have high standards of living and an almost zero crime rate. The Faroes tourist board boast of a beautiful destination – a great place for the family holiday. Funnily enough you will not see pictures of the Grind on the welcome brochures.

The Grind is not just a macho event for arrogant men, it is for the whole family to enjoy and take part in. Mum, dad, children, grandparents. It’s a real family day out. Creating terror and pain to another sentient species. Taking pleasure in driving heavy pulling hooks into blow holes. Proud of their skills at being able to saw through heads and spines with kitchen knives.

The conservation group Sea Shepherd along with other conservation organisations have tried many times to bring a stop to this senseless slaughter, but it never the less prevails. Now in 2014 Sea Shepherd is going all out to publicise this cruelty and bring the Grind to a halt. They cannot do this on their own. I ask you to support them. Social media has become a powerful tool for bringing people together and highlighting global problems. Share the facts of this crime against nature with all your friends. Be part of a culture that holds its head up high and says ‘we have had enough’. Sea Shepherd is not full of highly paid activists, but made up of volunteers, people like you and me. People who care about the planet on which we all live.

On the 18^th of Feb 2014 I attended a brief presentation on the Grind given by Brenda Kelly, a volunteer supporter of Sea Shepherd. After the talk I ask him about the campaign ahead.

For more information, visit:

https://www.facebook.com/operaciongrindstop2014

http://www.seashepherd.org.uk/news-and-media/2013/09/09/sea-shepherd-announces-operation-grindstop-2014-1533

Contact Sea Shepherd: GrindStop@SeaShepherdGlobal.org

Jeff Goodman

Jeff is a multiple award winning, freelance TV cameraman/film maker and author. Having made both terrestrial and marine films, it is the world's oceans and their conservation that hold his passion with over 10.000 dives in his career. Having filmed for international television companies around the world and author of two books on underwater filming, Jeff is Author/Programme Specialist for the 'Underwater Action Camera' course for the RAID training agency. Jeff has experienced the rapid advances in technology for diving as well as camera equipment and has also experienced much of our planet’s marine life, witnessing, first hand, many of the changes that have occurred to the wildlife and environment during that time. Jeff runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops for the complete beginner up to the budding professional.