Why a 2023 Whale Hunt Prompted a Cruise Line's Apology

On July 9, 2023, Ambition arrived in Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands as a pilot whale hunt was taking place near the port. The incident drew an apology from Ambassador Cruise Line and criticism from ORCA, whose conservationists were aboard. It also brought two opposing views of the hunt into public view: the campaigners condemned it, while the Faroese government defended it.

What the observers reported

ORCA’s July 11 account put the number of pilot whales killed at 78. It reported nine calves, estimated to be no more than a month old, among the animals. The charity described boats herding the whales into shallow water, where they were killed in view of passengers. It questioned how the islands could promote wildlife tourism while allowing hunts in sight of visiting ships.

The government defended the practice

The Faroese government responded on July 14. Its statement described pilot whaling as a regulated, non-commercial activity rooted in local food traditions. Catches were shared among participants and communities free of charge, it said. The government defended the practice as sustainable, citing research and monitoring, and said tourism and whaling happening alongside each other did not concern it. It also pointed to cooperation with the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission on studying and managing whales.

The cruise line's response

Ambassador said the hunt’s timing was disappointing and apologized to passengers who had been distressed. It pointed to its partnership with ORCA, which began in 2021, and its opposition to commercial whale and dolphin hunting. The company said it encouraged guests and crew to avoid whale and dolphin meat. Its stated approach was to support ORCA’s research and educate people aboard its ships.

The animals behind the dispute

Despite their name, long-finned pilot whales are dolphins. NOAA Fisheries describes them as social animals that live in groups, with a lifespan of 35 to 60 years. Its species profile lists several threats: getting caught in fishing gear, disease, chemical contaminants and ocean noise. NOAA also documents continued hunting in the Faroe Islands. These are distinct pressures on the animals; the count from a single hunt cannot establish a population trend.