Brutal Dolphin Slaughter Continues in Japan

by Mark Berman
International Marine Mammal Project

On October 11-12, Japanese fishers in the port of Futo, in Sizuoka Prefecture, captured nearly 100 wild bottlenose dolphins. Six dolphins were sent to two aquariums. Two of these dolphins died in transit and were replaced by two other dolphins. The remaining dolphins were slaughtered and sold as food in Japanese markets.

In Japan's "drive fisheries" scores of fishers in small boats herd dolphins into a small bay by hammering on metal sticks. In the process, many dolphins are injured, disoriented or separated from family members. The Japanese government permits this unbelievably cruel, unscientific, and unsustainable practice despite the fact that studies have shown dolphin meat to be seriously contaminated with PCBs, heavy metals and other toxins - at concentrations exceeding safety levels set for human consumption. Japan's Whale and Dolphin Action Network provided IMMP with videos of the slaughter. We sent them to Dan Rather, who broke the story on the CBS Evening News.

What You Can Do: Fax comments to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi; Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tokuichiro Tamazawa; Fishery Agency Director General Isao Nakasu; Minister of Health and Welfare Yuya Niwa. Signed messages on letterhead mailed to IMMP will be faxed to Japan. For more information, call Mark Berman, 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, CA 94133, (415) 788-3666 x146.