The North Atlantic Sea was turned red with the blood of whales during a gruesome ritual massacre on the Faroe Islands over the weekend. /Chinanews Photo

Locals slayed hundreds of pilot whales with lances after chasing them towards the shore for the Grindadrap festival. /Chinanews Photo

Grindadrap is the Faroese name for a yearly event that sees the locals hunt long-finned pilot whales as well as other species of cetaceans such as dolphins. /Chinanews Photo

While animal rights activists have protested against the slaughter, Faroese argue that the killing of pilot whales is “an age-old communal, noncommercial hunt aimed at meeting the community’s need for whale meat and blubber.” /Chinanews Photo

The islanders have reportedly killed an average of 838 pilot whales annually. /Chinanews Photo

Chinanews Photo