Stand Up for Change: Blue Seas Protection Launches 2nd UK Government E-Petition to End Brutal Dolphin Grind Hunts

Patron of Blue Seas Protection

Blue Seas Protection Calls for Mandatory Labelling of ‘Faroe Island Seafood’ Products to Combat Brutal Dolphin and Whale Grind Hunts

Today, 12th March 2025, Blue Seas Protection, a leading marine conservation organisation, is calling on the UK Government to enforce clear labelling on all seafood from the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Island fishing industry has long been linked to the brutal killing of dolphins and pilot whales, known as Grind Hunts, which occur just 180 miles north of Scotland UK and are still happening today until we put enough pressure on Governments to stop these Barbaric Dolphin Hunts.

As global awareness of these inhumane Dolphin Hunts grows, UK consumers are increasingly demanding transparency on seafood labels.

Currently, fish from the Faroe Islands are labelled as 'North East Atlantic,' making it difficult for consumers to identify which seafood products are linked to the UK-Faroe Fishing Trade Deal.

This lack of transparency allows consumers to unknowingly support the Faroe Island fishing industry that participates in these devastating Dolphin Hunts.

"By calling for clear Faroe Island Seafood labels, we aim to empower consumers to make informed choices about the products they purchase," said Captain Garry Oates, Founder of Blue Seas Protection. "This is an opportunity for the UK to lead by example, showing that we will not stand by while these Dolphins continue to suffer."

Dolphins and pilot whales, whose populations are vulnerable to overhunting, are protected under the UK’s Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, which recognises their capacity to suffer. As awareness of this issue continues to grow, it is crucial that consumers are given the information they need to make ethical purchasing decisions.

Blue Seas Protection believes that clearer labelling will not only help consumers avoid inadvertently supporting Grind Hunts but will also encourage Faroe Island Communities and Fishing industry to reassess the Grind Hunts, known as The Grindadrap, and to stop them entirely. 

The MSC Blue Tick label cannot be relied upon by UK Consumers because it is being used on all Faroe Island Fish and Seafood, which is currently labelled as North East Atlantic as the Country of Origin.  So without realising it, UK Consumers are unknowingly purchasing Faroes Fish even if it is labelled with the MSC Blue Tick which normally reassures consumers that it has been sustainably sourced and caught.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue fish tick label in the UK signifies that wild-caught seafood comes from a certified sustainable fishery, which is assessed against the MSC's standards to ensure healthy fish populations and minimal environmental impact. 

Clearly Grind Hunts cause significant environmental, health and welfare impacts on Dolphin populations.

This petition also coincides with the 4th anniversary of the tragic 12th September 2021 Grind Hunt, during which 1,428 dolphins were slaughtered by the Faroe Islanders.  The UK Conservative Government signed their UK-Faroe Fish Trade Agreement Deal on 29th October 2020, less than a year earlier.  The most recent signing of the new updated UK-Faroe Fish Trade Agreement was signed by the new Labour Government in January 2025. Blue Seas Protection is urging marine conservation groups, concerned consumers, and the public to sign the petition and call on the UK Government to take action.

Help Stop the Grind Now – Visit the petition at [Insert petition link] to add your name and make a difference today or click the button below to take you there.

For more information, visit: www.stopthegrindnow.com

For media inquiries, please contact: stopthegrindnow@gmail.com

About Blue Seas Protection Blue Seas Protection is dedicated to the protection of marine life through education, advocacy, and conservation. Our mission is to raise awareness about the inhumane practices harming marine ecosystems, and to work towards a more sustainable future for our oceans and the creatures that inhabit them.