11/05/2017 (Agence Europe) – With the formal support of 27 MEPs, the NGO Sea Shepherd Nederland on Thursday 11 May officially complained to the European Commission about Denmark on the grounds that this member state facilitates the mass killing of pilot whales and other cetaceans in the Faroe Isles. The NGO is calling for infringement procedures for failure to comply with the 'Habitats' directive, which prevents member states from disturbing, capturing or deliberately killing cetaceans. However, between June and November every year, hundreds of pilot whales are forced onto the beaches of the Faroe Isles by motorboats, then massacred as part of a practice called grindadráp or Grind. “By supporting the Faroe Isles in the killing of pilot whales and other cetaceans, Denmark is facilitating the massacre and failing in its obligations towards the EU”, said Geert Vons, director of the NGO. (AN)