Announcing the 9th year of Operation Bloody Fjords!
Since 2016, Neptune’s Pirates UK (the new name of Sea Shepherd UK) has been steadfast in its mission to document and expose the cruel and unnecessary Grindadráp drive hunts of pilot whales and other dolphins in the Danish Faroe Islands.
Over the past eight years, our UK charity has funded and coordinated over 200 crew members, videographers, and drone pilots to meticulously document every aspect of these hunts, shedding light on the brutality inflicted upon these intelligent marine mammals.
In our ninth consecutive year working on this issue, Neptune’s Pirates UK is transitioning into a new phase of direct action: a hard-hitting publicity initiative and the production of a new documentary film. This initiative aims to exert both internal and international pressure on the Faroese Government to finally bring an end to their barbaric dolphin hunts.
Throughout our extensive documentation efforts, our dedicated crew on Operation Bloody Fjords have endured numerous challenges,
including witnessing:
- 55 long-finned pilot whale grindadráp hunts - 4 Atlantic white-sided dolphin hunts, including the largest single massacre of dolphins (1428 killed) recorded in human history on September 12, 2021 - 4 mixed-species dolphin drive hunts - 1 Bottlenose dolphin hunt, the equal largest in documented Faroese history at 100 killed- 5 strandings of Northern Bottlenose Whales where the animals were killed and butchered - 4 pilot whale tagging events which resulted in one or more members of the pod being killed In total, our documentation reveals that the Faroese have taken 5241 lives, including 3362 pilot whales, 1690 Atlantic white-sided dolphins, 101 bottlenose dolphins, and 21 northern bottlenose whales.
Despite widespread condemnation and mounting evidence of the extreme cruelty and environmental consequences of these hunts, there is no indication that the Faroese Government intends to cease these practices. We have all the videos and photos the world’s media ever needs. Now it’s time to change tactics.
“For eight years, our crew have steadfastly stood quietly by and documented the grindadráp. In that time, we have seen no trends to show that Faroese opinions are changing or the number of dolphins being killed is reducing. That’s why our strategic approach is changing. It’s time to stop the grind.”
Rob Read, Chief Operating Officer
Neptune’s Pirates UK is now shifting its focus to targeting the Faroe Islands’ two most lucrative industries - aquaculture and tourism. Our strategic approach includes determined crew members returning to the islands for the ninth year, engaging in direct-action to save cetacean lives, orchestrating media initiatives with stunts at various locations, and releasing a new documentary film this summer. As Neptune’s Pirates UK embarks on this new phase of activism, we call on the international community to stand with us in condemning the grindadráp and advocating for the protection of marine life in the Faroe Islands and the North Atlantic.
Now, more than ever, your support is crucial in our efforts to stop the grind. If you're curious to learn more about the grindadráp, check out our campaign page.
We need you. Join us.
