News Archives

April, 2005

Export permit approved for dolphins captured during drive fisheries

On March 28th Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry granted an export permit for the Taiji Whale Museum allowing a planned sale of eight dolphins captured during the 2004 drive fisheries to proceed. The eight dolphins will be sold to an aquatic park in China unless dolphin advocates are able to convince the mayor of Taiji to block this export. Please send your letter protesting this sale today.

The dolphins, four males and four females, are currently housed in a sea pen at the Taiji Whale Museum. Sunasia Ocean World, a marine park in China, plans to purchase the dolphins for $400,000 through a company in New Zealand. If the sale goes forward, it is expected that the dolphins will be shipped to China around April 20th.

The drive fisheries occur each year in Taiji amid international condemnation and protests. During the drives, dolphins and small whales are forced into shallow water using nets strung between boats. Once the dolphins are trapped in the shallows the fishermen kill them using knives and spear-like devices. A select few, like the eight being sought by China, are spared an immediate death and sold into captivity to be trained for aquatic shows or to participate in swim-with-dolphin programs.