flensing

Flensing is the process of stripping the skin and, especially, the blubber from a large marine mammal, typically a whale or seal, after it has been killed. The term derives from flense, an old word meaning to strip or peel. In traditional whaling, flensing was performed at the shipside or at a whaling station, with the carcass hauled aboard so the blubber could be removed in long, workable strips.

The procedure involves removing the outer skin and then the underlying fat in stages. Workers use specialized knives, spades, hooks, and lines to divide the blubber into manageable sections and separate it from the carcass. The skin and blubber are often rendered into oil, a primary product of historical whaling. The exact technique and sequence could vary by vessel and region, but the goal was to obtain clean, usable blubber with as little waste as possible.

By-products and variations: In addition to oil, other parts of the carcass were utilized where possible, including meat for crew consumption and, in some cases, baleen from baleen whales. Substantial by-products such as bones and cartilage could also find uses in different industries. Methods and efficiency depended on equipment, weather, and the regulations in force at a given time.

Regulation and context: Beginning in the 20th century, concern for whale stocks led to increased regulation and, in 1986, the International Whaling Commission placed a moratorium on commercial whaling. Some countries continue limited whaling under quotas or scientific permits, while many others have ended the practice. Modern flensing operations are typically governed by national and international laws, welfare standards, and conservation considerations. See also: whaling, blubber, flense, whale oil.