TIME TO KILL: Tokyo sanctions an extended cull of Taiji dolphins

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Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007

 

 

TIME TO KILL

Tokyo sanctions an extended cull of Taiji dolphins

 

 

By BOYD HARNELL

Special to The Japan Times

 

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fe20070919a1.html

The photos accompanying this article were shot covertly despite escalating

intimidation by members of the Isana Fishery Union in Taiji, Wakayama

Prefecture, who appear to be increasingly fearful that continuing publicity in

Japan and abroad will threaten their widely condemned but profitable annual

dolphin slaughter.

 

 

A covertly taken shot of five bottlenose dolphins awaiting the butchers'

knives and chainsaws on the dock at Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture on Sept. 14. This

season's quota has been officially upped despite worldwide protests. NIGEL

BARKER PHOTO

 

This year, with special dispensation from the government's Fisheries Agency in

Tokyo, those conducting the Isana Union's oikomi (drive fisheries) were allowed

to begin their killings on Sept. 1 - a month earlier than normal - and to

continue as usual until March 31. It means more money in the bank for those in

Taiji who do their worst with lances and long-bladed knives. More money, too,

for those involved in the subsequent butchering, packing and retailing of the

toxic dolphin meat that far exceeds Japan's legal levels of mercury

concentration.

 

But why should those Taiji killers care? This year the official annual quota has

been upped by 88 animals, to a total of 2,468. The creatures' meat is even

included in school meals, and though the government knows full well it is toxic

- up to 87 times the permitted level of methyl mercury was found in a joint

Japanese/New Zealand 2005 academic study of samples bought from shops (see JT,

Nov.1, 2006) - it seems it will do nothing now, perhaps preferring some

scapegoating and deep bowing when awful human afflictions arise in the future.

And as for Japan's meek vernacular media, well don't wait for them to raise a

stink.

 

 

BACKBONES of pilot whales on a truck on Sept. 14, only hours after these

large members of the dolphin family had been swimming in the " killing cove " at

Taiji.

 

Camera scuffle

The photos here were taken by Nigel Barker, a longtime Australian resident of

Taiji, who said he was attacked by a supporter of the Isana Union who tried to

grab his camera. Undeterred, he managed to capture these images of five

bottlenose dolphins awaiting butchering on the dock at Taiji harbor on Sept. 14,

and a truckload of backbones from pilot whales that a few hours earlier had been

swimming in the " killing cove, " into which they were driven from the open sea.

 

According to eyewitness accounts, to date this year, the killing - which is

conducted in a national park - has accounted for 95 cetaceans, comprising 45

Rissos dolphins, 18 bottlenose dolphins and 32 pilot whales, one of the largest

dolphin species. Five other dolphins were reportedly selected for lucrative sale

as show performers. But there is still time for an awful lot more toxic

bloodletting before this extended season ends in March.

 

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