September 2006

On Wednesday, September 20^th, dolphin advocates around the world will stage an international day of protest against Japan's bloody “drive fisheries”.

During this annual hunt, fishermen in motorboats encircle pods of dolphins and chase them to shore. Once the dolphins are beached, the fishermen slaughter them with knives and spears. This hunting method is particularly cruel and inhumane and benefits only a handful of fisherman.

Click here to learn more about events in your area.

The international day of action will be held at Japanese Embassies and Consulates around the globe at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 20th. The more people who turn out the better, so please consider joining in an event near you.

During the annual hunt, a few “lucky”  live dolphins are set aside for the captivity industry while the rest are stabbed, their throats cut on the spot, before being loaded onto trucks, sometimes still conscious, to be processed into meat and fertilizer.

Though the majority of the dolphins are slaughtered for meat, it is the young dolphins “saved” for the captivity industry that are the primary motivation for the hunts. Many fisherman have admitted that they would not continue the drive fisheries if it were not for the high prices offered by the captivity industry for wild dolphins.

Show your support for dolphins by participating in an awareness event near you on September 20^th.