UK GOVERNMENT MUST ACT ON DOLPHIN AND WHALE HUNTING IN FAROE ISLANDS

I led for the SNP in a debate on the cruel practice of whale and dolphin hunts in the Faroe Islands.

Around 800 whales are hunted every year and last year more than 1400 dolphins were slaughtered. The international outcry against the scale of the slaughter of these majestic creatures prompted the Faroese Government to review this practice. However, it turns out this review has concluded with no meaningful action.

The UK now has free trade treaty with the Faroe Islands which accounts for over 25% of the islands global trade. The value of this agreement , in terms of exports to the UK reached a staggering £864m , in comparison to the total UK exports to the Faroe Islands is now a mere £17m in the same period.

This means that the UK Government has leverage here to effect real change in encouraging the Faroe Islands to prohibit this barbaric practice of dolphin and whale hunting, bringing it into line with the rest of Europe.

Encouraging and pressuring the Faroe Islands to outlaw this horrific practice of hunting whales and dolphins can boost their economy as well. We know that nations which once permitted whale hunting now engage in whale watching, which generates far more income and employment through whale tourism than hunting ever did, as well as winning international approval.