Faeroe Islands limits controversial dolphin hunt quota to 500 after huge 2021 kill

The government on the small Faeroe Islands is proposing an annual catch limit of 500 white-sided dolphins on a provisional basis for 2022 and 2023, after last year's slaughter of more than 1,400 dolphins in a day led to international condemnation and local criticism.

The hunt in the North Atlantic islands is part of a four-century-old traditional drive of sea mammals into shallow water, where they are killed for their meat and blubber. It is not commercial and is authorized, but environmental activists claim it is cruel. Even people in the Faeroes who defend the traditional practice worried that the hunt would draw unwanted attention because it was far larger than previous ones and seemingly took place without the usual organization.

On Sunday, the government said that the capping measure was "in response to the unusually large catch" on Sept. 14, 2021. It added that the proposal is expected to be implemented as an executive order by July 25.