Whaling in The Faroe Islands - Catches

Catches

Records of the drive exist in part since 1584, and continuously from 1709—the longest period of time for statistics existing for any wild animal harvest in the world.

The catch is divided into shares known in Faroese as a skinn, which is an age-old measurement value that derives from agricultural practices. One skinn equals 38 kg of whale meat plus 34 kg of blubber: in total 72 kg.

Period Drives Whales Skinn
1709–1950 1,195 178,259 1,360,160 |
Period Drives Whales Skinn
1951–1960 122 18,772 99,102
1961–1970 130 15,784 79,588
1971–1980 85 11,311 69,026
1981–1990 176 18,806 108,714
1991–2000 101 9,212 66,284 |
Period Drives Whales Skinn
2001 11 918 7,447
2002 10 626 4,263
2003 5 503 3,968
2004 9 1,010 8,276
2005 6 302 2,194
2006 11 856 6,615
2007 10 633 5,522
2008 N/A N/A N/A
2009 3 310
2010 16 1107
2011 10 726

The Faroe Island Statistical office published the official numbers for the 2009 drive hunt. The statistics show that a total of 310 pilot whales, 174 whitebeaked dolphins, two bottlenose whales and one bottlenose dolphin were killed in three separate grinds.

  • Long-term annual average catch 1709–1999: 850
  • Annual average catch 1900–1999: 1,225
  • Annual average catch 1980–1999: 1,511
  • Annual average catch 1990–1999: 956

Read more about this topic:  Whaling In The Faroe Islands

Famous quotes containing the word catches:

    “A closed mouth catches no flies.”
    —Miguel De Cervantes (1547–1616)

    “All catches alight
    At the spread of spring:
    Birds crazed with flight
    Branches that fling
    Leaves up to the light”
    —Philip Larkin (1922–1986)

    “When the city gate catches fire, it’s the fish in the moat who suffer.”
    —Chinese proverb.