Where is there a line between trying to preserve your culture and heritage and being on the same page with modern moral values? This question is difficult to answer because there is no right or wrong answer. One of the examples of this issue is the situation in the Faroe Islands. The people of the Faroe Islands have been hunting pilot whales for centuries; it is part of their culture and identity. Furthermore, it is one of the food sources they have. However, the world cares about the customs of the islands. Every year a large number of whales are killed by locals. The act is so cruel that the sea water turns red due to the spilled blood. Then new questions arise: is hunting still necessary, why can't the Danish government guarantee a better lifestyle for its people, why does such cruelty still exist today. According to research, whaling should be banned because it is dangerous to people's health, is an outdated tradition and is a cruel act. One of the main reasons why whaling should be banned in the Faroe Islands is due to the effects that whale meat has on the health of humans who eat it regularly. Many research projects have shown that excessive consumption of seafood can reduce cognitive abilities due to the presence of methylmercury, a toxic pollutant, in marine food. The population of the Faroe Islands is heavily dependent on marine resources. “Today, whale meat represents approximately 30% of the total meat produced in the islands (Faroe Government 2004) and is a cultural component of the Faroe lifestyle.” The fact that the consumption of whale meat is widespread on the islands has attracted the attention of many scientists aware of the problems that these customs can cause. “Based… mid-article… year by year. O'Barry, Helene Hesselager. "HEART of Darkness." Earth Island Journal (2013): 18-23. ProQuest. Network. April 1, 2014. The author of this article traveled to the Faroe Islands and investigated why pilot whale hunting still occurs. The Faroe Islands Department of Health has said that whale meat is dangerous for people, especially women who want to have children; it is contaminated with dangerously high levels of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as DDE, a breakdown product of the insecticide DDT. He found that people hunt whales for the sake of it, because they are free food and hunting is representative of their culture. The Faroese also like to hunt whales because it is a tradition that has existed on the islands for centuries. Many people on the islands don't worry about the side effects of pilot whale meat.