Faroe Islands extends goose hunting permit for another five years

The Faroese government has extended a permit allowing the hunting of greylag geese and barnacle geese for another five years, according to a report by national broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya.

The Environment and Industry Council (Vinnumálaráðið) announced the decision, which prolongs a 2021 regulation that was set to expire this year. The extended permit will now remain in effect until 1 January 2031.

Greylag geese, which damage crops and farmland, were first approved for controlled hunting in 2021 to mitigate their impact on agriculture. Official counts recorded 1,128 greylag geese in the Faroe Islands in 2022, with numbers fluctuating to 994 in 2023 and 1,133 in 2024.

Barnacle geese, previously a protected species, have now been included in the hunting permit due to similar concerns over agricultural damage. All other wild goose species remain protected under Faroese law.

The regulation applies only to geese found on cultivated land, where they are deemed harmful to farming activities.