March 2005

Despite dangerous levels of contamination, dolphin meat is still being sold in Japan to an unsuspecting public. In November 2004, the Elsa Nature Conservancy (http://enjoy.pial.jp/~animals/elsa/) acquired a sample of bottlenose dolphin meat from the drive fishery in Futo. The meat samples were tested by the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Test results found that the meat contained dangerously elevated levels of mercury, 48 times higher than current maximum levels set by Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

The Inspecting Center of Public Health in Ibaraki Prefecture previously advised that dolphin meat contaminated with mercury should be discarded, as consuming this poisoned meat poses a severe health risk to humans and can cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

Despite this warning and the alarming test results, this poisoned meat is still available on supermarket shelves across Japan. Please take a moment to send a letter to the following officials and request that they put the best interests of their citizens and the welfare of the dolphins ahead of the pursuit for profit and discontinue the sale of dolphin meat.

Officials responsible for citizens' health:

- Mr. Toichiro Suzuki, Mayor of Ito, E-mail: hisyo@city.ito.shizuoka.jp, Fax: +81-557-36-1104
- Ito-city "Kenkou-Suishin-ka"(Health-Promotion-Section in Ito City), E-mail: kenko@city.ito.shizuoka.jp
- Mr. Taiji Sakurai, Mayor of Kawazu Town, E-mail: info@town.kawazu.shizuoka.jp, Fax: +81-558-34-0099
- Mr. Kazutaka Sangen, Town Mayor of Taiji, E-mail: taiji@town.taiji.wakayama.jp, Fax: +81-735-59-2801
- Mr. Yoshinobu Ishikawa, Governor of Shizuoka prefecture, E-mail:governor@pref.shizuoka.jp, Fax: +81-54-221-2164
- Department of Food Safety, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, Fax: +81-3-3503-7965, E-mail: syokucommunication@mhlw.go.jp
- Mr. Yoshiki Kimura, Governor of Wakayama prefecture, E-mail: e0001003@pref.wakayama.lg.jp, Fax: +81-73-423-9500. Governor Kimura gives the drive fishery permit.

Supermarkets in Ito and Kawazu where dolphin meat is sold:
 
- Nagaya Kamata Branch: 118-1 Minamicho 2chome, Ito-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 414-0035, Japan
- Aoki Kawazu Branch: 123 Kawazuhama, Kamogun, Shizuoka-ken, 413-0500, Japan
- NakamonSuisan: Ito Shopping Center 720-143 KusumiMotowada, Ito-shi, Shizuoka-ken, 414-0045, Japan
- NagahamaSuisan: Ito Shopping Center 720-143 KusumiMotowada, Ito-shi, Shizuoka-
ken, 414-0045, Japan