An assessment of cetacean welfare in the Faroe Islands' drive hunt

Drive hunts in the Faroes and Japan typically involve prolonged herding of cetaceans (over hours or even days) into shallow water, forced stranding, restraint and killing using a spinal lance and exsanguination. These methods raise significant animal welfare concerns. This study applies the Five Domains Model to the Faroe Islands' grindadráp hunt to consider potential welfare implications and associated affective states. We examined published hunting guidelines and divided the hunt into six stages. Each author independently summarized potential impacts within the Five Domains Model; subsequent group consensus via online meetings assigned likely welfare impacts and affective states. Demonstrable welfare impacts and negative affective states were identified for each grindadráp stage. The prolonged chase, forced stranding, capture and restraint probably cause chronic and acute physiological stress. The spinal lance may not render animals instantaneously unconscious, raising substantial concerns that some animals may remain aware during exsanguination. Commonly inferred affective states for each domain included: pain, anxiety, disorientation, fear and panic. Given the inherent constraints of the hunt, it is unlikely that grindadráp can be undertaken humanely. If the hunt is to continue, substantial reform would be necessary to minimize animal suffering and align with welfare standards applicable to mammals in food production or research.