page_title: History of whaling
section_title: Faroe Islands
hierarchical_section_title: History of whaling / Whaling history by region / Faroe Islands
caption_attribution_description: English: Scene at the abandoned whaling station at Við Áir, located between Hósvík and Hvalvík on Streymoy (Faroe Islands). Nederlands: Het ​​verlaten walvisvangst-station in Við Áir, gelegen tussen Hósvík en Hvalvík op Streymoy (Faröer Eilanden).
context_page_description: Whaling has been an important subsistence and economic activity in multiple regions throughout human history. Commercial whaling dramatically reduced in importance during the 19th century due to the development of alternatives to whale oil for lighting, and the collapse in whale populations. Nevertheless, some nations continue to hunt whales even today.
context_section_description: During the early 1900s the whaling stations in the Faroe Islands included:
  Gjánoyri on Streymoy, situated in the sound between the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy, established in 1894;
  Norðdepil on Borðoy in the Northern Islands (Norðoyar), established in 1898 and closed down in 1920;
  Lopra on the island of Suðuroy, established in 1901 and closed down in 1953;
  Funningsfjørður on Eysturoy, established in 1901;
  Við Áir whaling station, established in 1905 and closed down in 1984.
  Peak catching was reached in 1909, when 773 whales were caught to produce 13,850 barrels of oil. In 1917, with the war and poor catches, whaling was suspended. The islanders' main interest in whaling was cheap meat, while 90% of the proceeds from the oil went abroad, mostly to Norway. Four Norwegian companies resumed catching in 1920 but quickly stopped. In 1933 the two remaining whaling stations in Lopra and Við Áir were taken over by Faroese owners. From 1977 to 1984 the whaling station Við Áir was owned and operated by the Faroese government.
  The buildings and the equipment of Við Áir whaling station are still in existence. The Faroese Ministry of Culture (Mentamálaráðið) recommended conservation in 2007, suggesting that the whaling station be made into a maritime museum with activities for the visitors.
caption: The Whaling Station Við Áir on Streymoy, Faroe Islands, is the only Norwegian built whaling station in the northern hemisphere still standing. It is being renovated into a museum.
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