In the medieval period of Europe, whales were hunt systematically, for example, in Bay of Biscay, and the meat was consumed as food widely by people living along the costal areas, especially whale tongue was highly valued.
中世ヨーロッパにおいてはビスケー湾などで組織的な捕鯨が行われ、鯨の舌が珍重されたほか、肉は広く沿岸民の食糧となった。