A new cross-party coalition of UK MPs has called on ministers to take decisive action to help bring an end to dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands, renewing political pressure on a practice long criticised by animal welfare and conservation groups.
The motion, tabled by Green Party MP Adrian Ramsay, condemns the grindadráp – commonly known as the grind – a practice in which pods of dolphins are driven into shallow bays by boats and killed by hand. The MPs describe the hunts as inflicting “extreme suffering” on “highly sentient marine mammals” and are urging the UK Government to reassess its relationship with the Faroe Islands in response.
Located approximately 200 miles north of the Scottish coast, the Faroe Islands have faced increasing international scrutiny over the hunts, which continue to draw widespread condemnation despite their defenders framing them as a cultural tradition.
The motion forms part of a first-of-its-kind letter-writing campaign led by the Stop The Grind initiative and is supported by nine MPs from three different political parties. Since the campaign launched on Tuesday morning, public engagement has been swift, with hundreds of people writing to their MPs – equating to roughly one letter every three minutes.
Public opposition to the hunts is not new. In 2022, more than 100,000 people signed a UK Government petition calling for an end to the grind. The renewed parliamentary action reflects continued pressure from UK citizens urging their representatives to take a united, cross-party stance.
The motion raises significant concerns around animal welfare and regulation, noting that more than 1,000 cetaceans were killed in Faroese hunts in 2025 alone, including juveniles and pregnant females. It also challenges claims that the hunts reflect widespread public support within the Faroe Islands, citing research indicating that more than 70% of Faroese people rarely or never participate, while nearly all women oppose the practice.
