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NAMMCO recommendations – Workshop on Hunting Methods for Marine Mammals |
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The 1999 NAMMCO Workshop on Hunting Methods for Marine Mammals agreed on recommendations regarding whale killing methods in the hunting of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, as well as with regard to methods used to kill stranded bottlenose whales in the Faroe Islands. Progress on implementing these recommendations has since been reported by the Faroe Islands to the regular meetings of the NAMMCO Committee on Hunting Methods, summarised as follows:
- NAMMCO workshop recommendation on hunting of long-finned pilot whales
The Workshop noted with satisfaction that Faroe Islands has accomplished a number of improvements in the pilot whale hunt. These include a gentler driving of the whales, prohibition against the use of the spear, and the use of a new blunt hook for securing the animals. In addition, other efforts such as educational programs in the schools on how to hunt whales are under way. The Workshop notes, however, that the pointed hook is still in use and recommends that further effort be made to replace this with the new blunt hook for securing the animals (1999 NAMMCO Annual Report, p. 71)
The Faroe Islands have since reported to NAMMCO (2001) that the blunt hook for securing the animals in the pilot whale hunt has been produced in sufficient numbers (a total of 620 with attached lines) and is now widely available for use in authorised whaling bays around the country.
- NAMMCO workshop recommendation on killing of stranded northern bottlenose whales
Stranded bottlenose whales are killed in the same way as pilot whales. Questions were raised over whether this is an adequate method of killing such a large animal, and it was recommended that rifles with adequate ammunition be used for killing stranded whales of this species (1999 NAMMCO Annual Report, p. 71-72)
The Faroe Islands have since reported to NAMMCO (2001 & 2003) that a suitable rifle and ammunition for killing stranded bottlenose whales was now available for the purpose. Shooting tests on dead animals in 2002 confirmed that a 458 calibre round-nosed full metal jacket bullet was satisfactory for killing such whales.
See www.nammco.no for the full report of the 1999 Workshop on Hunting Methods, as well as reports from other NAMMCO technical and expert workshops dealing with issues related to hunting methods used in different forms of whaling, sealing and walrus hunting.
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