The pilot whale drive is regulated by government order, which stipulates in detail requirements for the organisation, supervision and conduct of the whale drive, killing methods and approved equipment, as well as rules for the distribution of the shares of a catch. These regulations are subject to a constant process of review and have been updated and revised a number of times in recent years, both to keep them consistent with technological developments in practice and to refine some of the organisational aspects of the drive and distribution. The use of the spear has been banned for more than 20 years.
The regulations divide the Faroes into 9 whaling districts with a total of 23 authorised whaling bays, all of which must meet the requirements for suitable beaching conditions. In each district the hunt is supervised by the district sheriff, and each authorised bay has 4 publically elected whaling foremen. In addition, the Faroese Pilot Whaler’s Association (Grindamannafelagið) serves as a forum for public debates and discussions on issues related to the hunt. The Ministry of Fisheries is responsible for the administration of whaling regulations and for coordinating Faroese participation in international scientific and conservation bodies which deal with the management of whale stocks.
