Environmental Investigation Agency: Japan's Dall's porpoise hunt:

A quarter of a century as the largest cetacean kill in the world

The international moratorium on commercial whaling, one of the greatest conservation achievements of the 20th century, was implemented in 1986. Just as the extinction of species like the blue whale seemed almost inevitable, the decimation of world whale stocks abated and the slow process of population recovery began.

However, whilst the giants of the oceans have enjoyed a reprieve, a small stocky black and white porpoise has been quietly slaughtered in huge numbers in Japan's coastal waters.

For 25 consecutive years the Dall's porpoise hunt has been the largest direct hunt of any cetacean species worldwide. Almost 400,000 have been reported killed since 1980, when Dall's catches first exceeded those of minke whales hunted by Japan, Norway and the former U.S.S.R.

Each year the Fisheries Agency of Japan issues permits for 17,700 Dall's porpoise to be killed.

Source: Environmental Investigation Agency: Japan's Dall's porpoise hunt:
Author: eia

Link: Embassies Japan
Link: Japanese testing new whale killing 'warhead'


Other EVANA-articles about this topic:
Japan - Great Britain: What a difference in attitude towards dolphins!!!! (en)