The Faroe Islands is to provisionally limit its controversial dolphin hunt to 500 animals, after receiving widespread criticism over last year’s cull, where more than 1,400 were killed. A review was ordered in February. The quota was set after the “unusually large catch” of 1,423 white-sided dolphins in September, the government said. “Aspects of that catch were not satisfactory, in particular the unusually large number of dolphins killed,” /Sea Shepherd/

Animal rights activists have long decried the hunt, deeming the slaughter cruel and unnecessary. Faroe Islanders give the practice their broad support, arguing the dolphins have fed them for centuries. The Faroe Islands is to provisionally limit its controversial dolphin hunt to 500 animals, after receiving widespread criticism over last year’s cull, where more than 1,400 were killed. /Sea Shepherd/

A petition with almost 1.3 million signatures calling for a ban on the traditional hunt was submitted to the Faroese government. Now the government has limited the annual catch to 500 for the next two years. /Sea Shepherd/