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228 more dolphins slaughtered in the Danish Faroe Islands as Sea Shepherd confronts the European Commission
Wednesday, 27 Sep, 2017
On September 25th, Sea Shepherd’s legal representatives sent a formal response to the European Commission condemning its sloppy and grossly inadequate reply to our detailed and painstakingly-researched legal arguments for infringement proceedings against Denmark. On the same day, 219 more Atlantic white-sided dolphins and nine more pilot whales were killed in the Faroe Islands.
Dolphins slaughtered in Hvalba, on the Faroe Islands, in 2013. Photo submitted to Sea Shepherd.
Compiled over a two-year period, the evidence presented to the Commission in May 2017 shows that Denmark has broken EU laws by facilitating and participating in the slaughter of dolphins in the Faroe Islands. The Commission's deficient reply dismissing the case indicates they failed to properly consider the dossier and its legal arguments. In accordance with the European Union’s long-standing administrative rules and guiding principles, Sea Shepherd demands the Commission give specific responses -- with legal justifications -- for each of the main points addressed in the request for infringement proceedings. We have requested the Commission provide its detailed justifications within 15 working days.
Meanwhile, on the same day, 219 more Atlantic white-sided dolphins were killed at Skálabotnur on the Faroese island of Eysturoy, and nine more pilot whales were killed at Hvalba. That brings the 2017 statistics up to 1605 small cetaceans slaughtered in 23 grindadrap hunts so far this year.
Sea Shepherd’s mission is to stop the slaughter of dolphins (including Atlantic white-sided dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales) in the Faroe Islands grindadrap hunts. Although part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroe Islands claim to be independent of European Union rules and regulation that prohibit killing of cetaceans. However, the Danish navy and Danish police have directly interfered with Sea Shepherd’s ability to stop the slaughter, both participating in and facilitating the grindadrap. Operation Bloody Fjords is a campaign to hold the Danish government accountable for their actions that result directly in the deaths of hundreds of dolphins every year.
Dolphins slaughtered this summer in Funningsfjordur, Faroe Islands. Photo submitted to Sea Shepherd.
“The Commission invited the submission of comments regarding its decision and requested ‘any information that might show evidence of an infringement.’ While we appreciate this opportunity to supplement the record, we respectfully point out that the Commission has failed to fully consider (or potentially consider at all) the extensive legal arguments and voluminous evidence already submitted in support of an infringement action against Denmark. There is no need for Sea Shepherd to submit additional ‘evidence of an infringement.’ The Commission already has sufficient evidence before it now.”
From Sea Shepherd's letter to the European Commission