Thousands of Dolphins killed in the name of tradition!

The Faroe Islands of Denmark have practiced a tradition called "Grindadrap" for a long time but now this tradition is coming under fire from several environmental and animal rights activist groups. Grindadrap is organized by the community and the hunt takes place every couple years. During the hunt several hundred whales are killed and often there is a surplus of whale meat that is left on the island's shore. Typically the hunters use boats to herd the whales into a bay or the bottom of a fjord. When the whales reach shallow water they are greeted by the islanders with 2.2 kg metal hook gaffs which are used to hold the whale in place while another islander cuts the whale to the spine using a 15 cm knife. Faroese legislation has also permitted the islanders to hunt certain species of small Cetaceans (Dolphins) which islanders kill using shotguns. The whale/dolphin hunt is a festive occasion for the Faroe islanders and children are given the day off for the occasion. Oddly in 2008 the chief medical officers of the Faroe Islands have recommended that pilot whales and dolphins no longer be considered fit for human consumption because of the level of toxins in the whales.

What do you think of this practice?