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Uniting to End Whaling in Europe: A Recap

By October 12, 2024January 21st, 2025No Comments

Last Friday, Sea Shepherd participated in a powerful panel discussion, “Blue Manifesto in Action: Uniting to End Whaling in Europe,” during EU Ocean Week. As part of the Stop the Grind Coalition, we were joined by leading legal experts, policymakers, and on-the-ground activists to address whaling in Europe. For those who couldn’t attend, you can watch the full recording of the panel below:

EU Ocean Week, an annual event that draws attention to critical ocean protection issues, served as the backdrop for our discussion on the Blue Manifesto—a strategic roadmap designed by several NGOs, including Seas at Risk, to ensure a healthy ocean by 2030. Rémi Cossetti from Seas at Risk introduced the manifesto, explaining its relevance in shaping EU policies and pushing for stronger protections against harmful practices like whaling.

Alice Di Concetto, founder of The European Institute for Animal Law & Policy, explained how the EU can exert pressure on whaling nations by restricting the transport of whale products through European ports, effectively cutting off key trade routes. Her presentation underscored the importance of legal frameworks in holding whaling nations accountable and leveraging the EU’s influence to push for compliance with international laws.

Dr. Anna von Rebay, founder of Ocean Vision Legal, brought a human rights perspective to the conversation. She argued that whaling undermines the right to a healthy environment, a right acknowledged by the United Nations in 2022. Dr. Anna also explored how whaling negatively impacts fundamental rights like access to food and health, making a strong case for mobilizing human rights laws in the fight against whaling.

Valentina Crast, Sea Shepherd’s Campaign Lead in the Faroe Islands, shared the realities from the front lines of our anti-whaling efforts. She detailed our ongoing direct action campaigns against the grindadrap, where hundreds of pilot whales and dolphins are slaughtered annually. Valentina emphasized that while our direct action at sea remains critical, there must be parallel efforts through public awareness and political pressure to bring an end to these hunts. Diplomatic action, economic restrictions, and legal enforcement are all tools that can and should be used against nations that continue whaling.

Lottie Pearson of Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) highlighted the lessons learned from their work in Iceland and Norway. In Iceland, awareness campaigns and local engagement have seen some success, with whale-watching growing as an alternative. However, Norway poses a different challenge, with both public and government support for whaling still strong. Lottie stressed the importance of targeted public campaigns, particularly focusing on the next generation, to shift perceptions.

As members of the Stop the Grind Coalition, Sea Shepherd and our partners are working on multiple fronts—direct action, legal avenues, and public campaigns—to drive forward the end of whaling in Europe. This coalition brings together organizations with a shared mission to protect marine life, with each group contributing unique expertise to this critical effort.

If you missed the panel, you can still watch the full recording here. Thank you for standing with us and continuing to support our mission to protect the oceans and end whaling.

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Stay connected, and let’s continue working together to stop whaling and protect the future of our oceans.