The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith

Minister for the Pacific and the Environment

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

11 January 2022

Dear Zac,

I am writing to you about the Stop the Grind campaign, and to express my deep concerns about the practice of killing of dolphins and pilot whales - otherwise known as the Grindadrap - in the Faroe Islands. 

The Stop the Grind Campaign asks the UK Government to: 

• Suspend its Free Trade Agreement with the Faroe Islands until the Grindadrap has been put to an end
• Demonstrate its environmental leadership by expressing concern to the Faroe Islands and calling on it to change the existing regulatory framework governing the Grindadrap to prohibit all cetacean hunting in the future

Over 40,000 UK citizens have called on the Government to suspend the trade deal with the Faroe Government until all whale and dolphin hunting comes to an end. This is a significant opportunity for the UK to use its post-Brexit trade freedoms to influence the Faroe Government to comply with environmental and welfare standards, and protect this rare and important species. 

I have given my backing to the campaign, and I strongly urge you to consider the long-term environmental and ethical impact of inaction, as described on the campaign’s website. 

I would be grateful for your response and thank you for your consideration. 

Yours sincerely,