Exploring values, rules, and knowledge around traditional hunting in a rapidly developing society

Consideration of traditional practices of natural resource management in decision-making is crucial to meet the challenges of the world’s intersecting sustainability crises. However, knowledge of the role that such practices play in developed societies is scant, especially in Europe. This study investigates the persistence of traditional hunting practices in the context of the Faroe Islands. Specifically, it explores the values, rules, and knowledge in relation to traditional hunting practices that shape human–nature relationships. Through 31 semi-structured interviews with active participants in mountain hare hunting, pilot whale hunting, and fulmar fowling, the study employs thematic content analysis to identify key themes and interrelations grounded in participant perspectives. Utilising the values-rules-knowledge (v-r-k) framework, which integrates diverse values, rules, and knowledge types, the study addresses the complex social-ecological challenges in the North Atlantic. These are characterized by rapid economic growth, geographic isolation, strong place attachment, and social-ecological vulnerabilities. Our results show that while traditional practices are diminishing across Europe, they remain vibrant in the Faroe Islands. Yet, hunting has shifted from subsistence to a recreational activity, with relational values to nature and the local community becoming more important than instrumental values. Our study demonstrates the important influence of the transmission of specific values, rules, and knowledge over time on hunting and ecosystem management practices, which extends existing scholarship on the motivational basis of hunting. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.