ACTION ALERT

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A dolphin hunt at Futo Port in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan was conducted on Wednesday, Oct.13, 1999.

In the beginning, dolphins were herded into a small bay and penned up separately by two nets, inner and outer. Then they were neglected during the night.
Later on, we heard that some dolphins were killed secretly at midnight.　 　　
Photos(above two): Mr. Susumu Kawaguchi(Animal Rights Center)

The next morning, Oct.14, the capture started. First, they sorted out the dolphins for aquariums. While the first two dolphins were being chosen, they died of shock.
In the end, fishermen captured 75 and 6 of them were sent to two aquariums. That means 69 were killed to sell as food. The way they were killed was cruel. The dolphins floundered and squirmed around the slaughterhouse for a long time.

The number 75 is the quota decided by the government for this season.
This time two prefectural officers came to watch and confirm the number.
Then around 2:00, about 15 to 16 dolphins in the inner pen were mixed with the dolphins in the outer pen. After 4:00, the rest (about 100 dolphins) were released.

The end result was that the fishermen captured 75 bottlenose dolphins and 6 of them were sent to two aquariums. The rest of them were killed to sell as food.
The quota is not based on ecology. It has been based on the capture of previous years since1993.

　　

Three main problems

1. There is a quota of capture for each species of dolphins and whales which is decided by the government for each prefecture. We really doubt whether the quota is appropriate. We also doubt if fishermen always keep the rule of annual quota. We often hear rumors about poaching here and there.
2. Contamination of dolphins must be seriously considered, not only for their own health but also for the health of people who eat them. Surprisingly, most Japanese don't know about the strong possibility that food at nearby supermarkets is contaminated.
3. The way they are captured, "drive fishery", is NOT humane at all. Dolphins are herded into small bays, and threatened with loud noises made by hammering metal sticks together. Usually, they are injured while being selected by the fishermen's long hooked tools. Also this time, many in the inner pen suffered terrible injuries such as lost eyes. They might not survive after their release.

E-mail or fax your protest against dolphin hunts to the following officers concerned.

Mr. Junichiro Koizumi
The Prime Minister,
Fax: +81-3581-3883
e-mail:jpm@kantei.go.jp

Mr. Tutomu Takebe
the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
Fax: +81-3-3501-0608 / e-mail: white56@maff.go.jp

Mr. Yoshiaki Watanabe
the Director General of Fishery Agency,
Fax: +81-3-3591-5824

Mr. Chikara Sakaguchi
the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare,
Fax: +81-3-3595-2020

Health and Food Department of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare,
FAX: +81-3-3503-7965 / e-mail: www-admin@mhw.go.jp

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IKAN ＜Iruka(dolphin)and Kujira(whale) Action Network＞
P.O. Box #10 Iruma Post Office Saitama Prefecture Japan
Email: QWP06555@nifty.ne.jp