Dear MARMAM Our new open access paper "An assessment of cetacean welfare in the Faroe Islands’ drive hunt" has been published today in Biology Letters and is available here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0311 The lead author Alick Simmons will present the paper in a research webinar on Friday, November 7, 2025, 3:00–3:30 PM (GMT+1). https://cassyni.com/events/Wpz5v4kjyFJugL7yuMzYKf Citation: Simmons, A.G., Boys, R.M., Nunny, L. and Simmonds, M.P. (2025) An assessment of cetacean welfare in the Faroe Islands’ drive hunt. Biology Letters 21: 20250311. http://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0311 Abstract: 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. With best wishes, Alick Simmons, Rebecca Boys, Laetitia Nunny and Mark Simmonds ____________________________________ OceanCare Laetitia Nunny Senior Science Officer Gerbestrasse 6 CH-8820 Waedenswil - Switzerland lnunny@oceancare.org<mailto:lnunny@oceancare.org> www.oceancare.org<http://www.oceancare.org/> [Ein Bild, das Text, Riff, Natur, Organismus enthält. KI-generierte Inhalte können fehlerhaft sein.]<https://www.oceancare.org/en/becauseourplanetisblue/> OceanCare strives for effective protection of marine habitats and urges governments to enforce conservation measures that restore ecosystems harmed by human activities – Because Our Planet Is Blue. Stay informed and subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.oceancare.org/en/take-action/newsletter/ OceanCare is an international marine conservation non-governmental organisation, founded in Switzerland in 1989. The organisation pursues the protection and restoration of the marine environment and marine wildlife with a strong policy focus, combining research, conservation projects and education. OceanCare’s remit includes marine pollution, climate change, marine mammal hunting and the environmental consequences of fisheries. Its work is supported by a team of scientific, legal and policy experts, and involves strategic collaboration with civil society organisations and coalitions around the world. OceanCare is an officially accredited partner and observer to several UN conventions and other international fora. Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete the message.