Source: Whales And Whaling in The Faroe Islands. Published by The Faroe Islands Department of Fisheries, 1993
How widely a catch can be divided depends on the number of
whales, and the size of the local population. In the capital,
Torshavn, for example, a catch today is only divided among
those who actually take part in the drive. The population of
the capital is too large, but in other whaling districts in
the Faroe Islands anyone registered with the sheriff at the
time of the catch will be entitled to a share of meat and
blubber.
It is the custom in most districts to allot a free share of
meat and blubber to the local hospitals and other institutions
such as nursing homes and daycare centres. The district
sheriff may also decide to auction some of the catch to cover
the cost of any damages that may have occurred during the
drive, such as damage boats or lost equipment.
Unlike in the many small locations outside the capital and on
other islands, not everyone in Torshavn has a member of the
family or close friend who takes part in the occasional whale
drive, so there are some people who never receive a free
share. Unfortunately for them, the only way to get a meal of
whale meat an blubber is by buying it. In Torshavn, a small
amount of private shares is sold to the local food stores, so
it is not unusual to see whale meat and blubber for sale in
teh supermarket, at cheaper prices than beef and lamb.
This is only a tiny percentage of the total yield of catches
in the Faroe Islands, but has become necessary to meet the
demand for it in the capital. The vast majority of any catch
is divided free according to the customary system of sharing
in each whaling district. The one share per resident system
common in most locations tends to favour large, low-income
families.
People receiving shares collect their meat and blubber
themselves. Faroe Islanders are familiar with the sight of a
dead animal killed for food, whether it be a whale, a sheep or
a cow, and many people are used to doing some of their own
butchering. When shares of whale meat and blubber are
collected, they are cut in a customary and systematic way,
both to get the most out of the whale and so as not to spoil
anyone else's share form the same carcass.
Children often help their parents to collect their meat and
blubber. After a drive, children can usually always be seen
displaying their natural curiosity for these large marine
mammals. They like to collect whale teeth, and enjoy examining
the various parts of the whale, although they are discouraged
from interfering too much with the carcasses.
Most Faroese children have not been alientated from the
processes of local food production, and their close contact
with the dead whales after a drive is considered to be a
natural part of their education and understanding of the
source of their food. From an early age they begin to learn
the techniques involved from watching the adults, and so gain
an understanding of the importance of cooperation and
organisation which make for a successful whale drive and an
efficient distribution of the catch.
Scientific findings have shown that up to 54% of a pilot whale
is used for human consumption, (compared with 47% of a fish)
and this also compares favourably with the percentage of other
mammals used for food. The remaining 46% consists of the head,
intestined, organs, skeleton, flippers, and tail. Some of the
intestines are also used for bait in coastal fishing.