Sea Shepherd – Saving Pilot Whales & Dolphins

Sea Shepherd's Operation Living Fjords is an international marine conservation campaign dedicated to protecting pilot whales and dolphins from drive hunts in the Faroe Islands, a North Atlantic archipelago between Scotland and Iceland.Since 1983, Sea Shepherd has campaigned against the traditional whale and dolphin hunts known as the grindadráp, during which entire pods of marine mammals are driven into shallow coastal waters and killed.

Documenting the Hunts

Sea Shepherd's field teams monitor hunting activities, document events through photography and video, and collect evidence of potential violations of animal welfare regulations.Due to legal restrictions on direct intervention, the campaign now focuses primarily on observation, documentation, public awareness and international advocacy.In 2025, footage collected by Sea Shepherd contributed to criminal charges against participants in a whale hunt, demonstrating how independent monitoring can support accountability.

International Action for Marine Mammals

Following the killing of 1,428 Atlantic white-sided dolphins in September 2021, Sea Shepherd joined forces with conservation partners to establish the Stop the Grind coalition.The initiative brings together organizations, policymakers and concerned citizens to seek lasting solutions through political engagement, public pressure and international cooperation.

Protecting Whales Through Awareness

Operation Living Fjords shares field reports, documentary footage and educational information to raise awareness of the threats facing pilot whales and other dolphins.The campaign also seeks constructive dialogue with Faroese communities, recognizing that long-term conservation depends on engagement, understanding and sustainable change.

Supporting the Campaign

Donations help support field monitoring, documentation equipment, campaign operations and international advocacy.Through persistent observation and global public engagement, Operation Living Fjords works towards a future in which pilot whales and dolphins can migrate through North Atlantic waters without the threat of drive hunts.

Photo Credits by: ©SeaShepherd
https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/our-campaigns/living-fjords/