Faroese whale hunt charges dropped after animal welfare law exemption
Tuesday 2nd June 2026 on 07:30 in
Faroe Islands
Prosecutors have dropped charges against a Faroese district sheriff and local whaling foremen accused of violating animal welfare laws during a 2023 pilot whale hunt in Hvannasund, the Faroese Whalers’ Association announced Tuesday.
The Faroese parliament amended the animal welfare act on May 26 to exclude traditional whale drives, along with fishing and hunting, from its provisions. The change renders existing whaling regulations and hunt announcements legally binding when a drive is called, effectively nullifying the earlier case.
The now-dismissed charges stemmed from a controversial hunt in Hvannasund that had drawn scrutiny under the previous interpretation of animal welfare laws.