Press release on Taiji dolphins

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Update

 

September 10, 2009 Brought to you by Oceanic Preservation Society

‘The Cove’ Puts Pressure on Taiji Fishermen, Dolphins To Be Released

 

BOULDER, Colorado (September 10, 2009) – Fishermen in Taiji, Japan will be

releasing captured dolphins this week in response to international outcry

following the award-winning film “The Cove.” Some of the dolphins captured

during the annual round up will be sold to aquariums, and while the rest are

typically slaughtered in secret, the fishermen will be releasing them

because of recent criticism.

 

 

An anonymous Taiji fisheries official said that it’s not clear whether the

town will stop killing dolphins permanently. Taiji residents see the dolphin

hunt as a tradition that is no different than killing other animals for

food. However, the dolphins that are killed and sold as food, often as

mislabeled whale meat, contain toxic levels of mercury and are potentially

poisoning Japanese consumers.

 

 

“The Cove” which won the Best Documentary Audience Award at this year’s

Sundance Film Festival and over a dozen international film festival awards,

exposes the Taiji dolphin slaughter and its consequences for Japanese public

health. Louie Psihoyos, Director of the film, says, “The Cove is proof that

one passionate person can make a difference and that together a few

like-minded people can change the world. If the news is indeed true then

this is a big victory for dolphins and the Japanese people.” Psihoyos has

written to Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki asking him to confirm the

status of the dolphin drives.

 

 

News of the suspension of the dolphin killings comes after immense public

support and calls to end the practice from a number of celebrities,

including Hayden Panettiere, Isabel Lucas, Ben Stiller, Zooey Deschanel, and

Yoko Ono. Russell Simmons has also embraced the film by hosting a special

screening of “The Cove” last night in New York to raise awareness.

 

 

The fishermen in Taiji captured about 100 bottlenose dolphins and 50 pilot

whales on Wednesday, with plans to sell some of their catch to aquariums for

up to $150,000 per animal. While Psihoyos is pleased with the decision to

release the unsold dolphins, the news is a mixed success.

 

 

“I’m thrilled that these dolphins won’t be killed, resulting in less

mercury-tainted meat on the market in Japan,” Psihoyos said, “but the ideal

scenario would be one where wild dolphins are not captured at all. When wild

intelligent and sentient animals are captured and forced to tricks for our

casual amusement – it says more about our intelligence than theirs. "

 

 

 

Contact:

 

 

Gina Papabeis

Oceanic Preservation Society

303-444-2454

gina

http://www.opsociety.org

 

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