Dolphins caught, not killed, in Taiji cove: Sea Sheperd

“My message to Japan is to see the movie for yourself with an open mind.”

How about realizing that traditions go on in all different countries that doesn't fit into the 'norm' of all poeple and thinking with an open mind.

Gurukun; It is the 21st Century. Time to move on from old outdated traditions. In a global world certain behaviour is expected and as a country that wishes to be considerd on a par with other developed nations, Japan needs to act in the manner expected otherwise mayve it should claose all ports again, stop exports and see how life is the "traditional" way.

Gurukun - just because something is called 'tradition' or 'culture', even correctly, is not a justification. Explaining something with 'tradition' amounts to the tautology "We do it because we do it. Why do we do it? Because it's what we do". Do you really need any time to think of times when breaking tradition has been an improvement? Tradition/Culture are excuses.

@stoker-human rights can be defined on a global scale. But the killing of dolphins? C'mon now. They way I feel about dolphins, if they were endagered, I'd be on the front steps of Taiji along with the protesters demanding a stop to the killings. But as for how they do it now, it's not my place, nor your place to dictate.

Steve-Please define what "to act in a manner expected". Who dictates what that manner is? And why is 'that' manner something everybody should follow as the Golden Rule.

Most Japanese have never eaten dolphin meat and, even in Taiji, it is not consumed regularly.

Again with the defensive overtones! So, if nobody eats them, why are they hunted and slaughtered?

Gurukun; Think what may be in Japans best interest. It does no good to Japan having this go on. These days image is everything, something Japan is well aware of. The manner expect is how other "rich" countries behave. The world is small these days, best not upset others over an outdated tradition. Other countries dont think it is good and the fishermen dont either, hence the tarpulin.

@Gurukun - There may be good reasons to slaughter dolphins, my point is that culture/tradition is not one of them - using human-related examples of bad traditions just gets the point across quickly. Closer parallels might be the strict ethical standards when it comes to the treatment of laboratory animals or those used in movies.

We have to understand that Japanese fishermen generally see dolphins as "the rats of the see" as they feed on the same fish the fishermen are out to catch. Hence these people will never understand nor willing to discuss the arguments of the "dolphin activists".

If dolphins were as smart as some claim them to be, they wouldn't return every year to the same spot, just to be killed.

larquero; have a read about dolphins and the behaviour and you will see why they do it.

"Sea Shepherd said it has been [stalking] Taiji with a small crew of [Communists] and [eco-terrorists]."

That's about right.

I'm fine with some people wanting to eat dolphins. However, I hear there is mercury in dolphin meat which is said to be dangerous for human health. There have been done research in Taiji and the population there had much higher level of mercury than in other parts of Japan but the population and the people being tested said that they felt perfectly fine. But how come in Taiji then took dolhpin meat off the menu in school lunches? This as far as I know was due to concern of mercury.

In Denmark where they also kill dolphins for food and have done so for many hundred of years just as in Japan, the government have come with this statement regarding mercury and doplhins.

On-going monitoring of contaminant loads in the marine environment around the Faroe Islands is carried out by the Faroese Environment Agency. Contaminant loads in pilot whales are an obvious source of concern, but are not a reason to stop whaling. Possible health risks must be balanced against the documented health benefits of a marine-based diet rich in polyunsaturated fats and lean, protein-rich meat. The environmental and health effects of substituting this local natural resource in the Faroese diet with industrially produced farmed foods imported from other countries have not been assessed.

http://www.whaling.fo/Default.aspx?ID=6771

My conclusion is that it can't be all that healthy to eat this meat, but on the other hand neither is other food such as hamburgers or beers.

(Was going to end with,...) and leave this small community to continue using it's natural resources for food.

neorgreenjapan.

You sure about those mercury level studies all the ones I found showed similar levels to the rest of Japan.

Like I said before mercury levels and other doxin warnings exist for many sea-species and sea-products. What makes the mercury level in dolphin meat different from the mercury level in lets say shark-fin(btw there are millions of sharks killed every year and many species are endangered now).

But I get it sharks are stupid so not worth worrying about them and the impact that fewer numbers have on the environment.

This is my major beef with activists they raise one species over another and claim it holly/better. And they tend to focus on one small easy target like Taiji when Doplhins are caught/slaughtered across Japan, etc. Read the stats again how many of the 20.000 approved Doplhin kills(by Japanese Goverment) come from that village.

Zenny11; You use emotioanl issues but ignore the fact that the killings are unuaully brutal and barbaric. As for the mercury, the dolphin was found to have levels of mercury so high feeding ro school kids was unacceptable. Mammals store more toxins and waste in their fat than other fish except whales.

Dolphins are killed all over Japan, but only in Taiji are they herded into an enclosed space to be slaughtered.Therein lies the differnce to thos eof us who research the matter.

@Zenny11.

I saw it on TV, where the government tested the population of Taiji and they had much higher level of mercury in their bodies than people from other parts of Japan. Then they interviewed the people being tested. They said they had been eating whales and fish all their lives so it would be difficult to change their habits, and laughed at the high levels of mercury they had. They said that they felt perfectly fine. But, Taiji I heard then took dolphins off the kyuushoku./school lunch menu.

Any fish, animals on top of the food chain got more mercury than small fish. I am not sure what has lots of mercury and what doesn't. Maybe shark got lots of mercury too? My point is that, I don't care if people eat dolphins but mercury should be a concern. If there is mercury in sharks people should know the possible dangers attached to it as well.

I find it facinating that they kill dolphins the almost exact same way in Denmrak as in Japan. Maybe they need to invite each other over and have more cultural exchange.

The Faroese I think is spot on with their analysis of the close minded anti whale hysteria mainly practiced in countries with little maritime culture.

The pilot whale hunt in the Faroes is, by its very nature, a dramatic and bloody sight. Entire schools of whales are killed on the shore and in the shallows of bays with knives which are used to sever the major blood supply to the brain. This is the most efficient and humane means of killing these animals under the circumstances, but it naturally results in a lot of blood in the water. It is also understandable that there have been many strong reactions to media reports and pictures of the hunt in other countries, especially in urban communities, where most people have never actually been witness to the slaughtering processes from which their own meat derives.

Neogreenjapan.

That is partly my point. Many sea-animals got a high level of mercury/toxins hence the goverment warnings globally.

Eat a contaminated animal often you will end up with high levels, not sure how often it was served in Taiji schools.

But the activists here claim that ONE meal/year will contaminate my son and endanger him. I can show the meal-plans for the last 4 years from my sons school/ward as proof.

Fully agree mercury/doxins should be a concern but it should be up to each individual to decide when or what or how much to eat of X-item.

""larguero at 04:03 PM JST - 3rd September If dolphins were as smart as some claim them to be, they wouldn't return every year to the same spot, just to be killed.""

How the killed dolphin can return to the same spot every year is beyond me! Looking forward to your explanation! lol

neogreenjapan; many people as you say have a strong reaction to medai reports in the Faroes. As a person from an island country with a long maritime culture i think i have a valid voice and concern. Slaughtering of animlas in developed countries is regulated, the dolphin kill is not.

"Dolphins caught, not killed, in Taiji cove: Sea Sheperd"

Is that title correct?

I read it a:s "Dolphins caught: Sea Sheperd; Not killed: in Taiji Fishing Official."

It seems that the foreign bigger organizations defeated the smallest town's culture. What a shame!

kwatt; What is a shame?Isn`t it great to stop animal cruelty?

And when dolphin meat is labelled whale-meat in the shops, and no distinction made between baleen whale and toothed whale, the individual consumer is deprived of the info needed to decide how much mercury he's willing to ingest.

the activists here claim that ONE meal/year will contaminate my son

?? Who has claimed that, then?

Anyone who saw "The Cove" knows that the herd the dolphins (banging long metal pipes to panic the poor things) into the cove, drop a net to seal the exit, and KILL, BABY, KILL the next morning. Shame on Japan! Oh, just go and eat your mercury laden mammals, and feed it to your kids in school lunches. Be done with ya. Yes, I'm deeply unhappy about this situation. So unnecessary. Please stop it!

It looks like that big guys bully a little boy because of his little rude attitude.

O'Barry, those Sea Rascals are trying to piggy-back on you; good as long as they learn a few good things about decency and being ethical even when you want to fight agaianst something. So the foreigners have camped in Taiji is it?

Again if it takes a DNA test to tell dolphin from whale apart how far apart are the species in biological terms?

Shame on Japan! Oh, just go and eat your mercury laden mammals, and feed it to your kids in school lunches.

I would hope that grown up people stop being such hypocrites, constantly bashing my country, but ignoring that the same way of killing dolphins happens around the world without you getting all upset.

Here are only two examples:

(Denmark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDkwuVcoCVY

(Solomon Islands) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP3FbrF5YyM

Moderator: Other countries are not relevant to this discussion.

how far apart are the species in biological terms?

Not far at all. They all belong to the order cetacea. It's their diet that makes the difference. Just like the people who live in Taiji and have mercury levels many times higher than the rest of us are biologically identical to all the rest of homo sapiens. It's just that they eat toxic waste.

The way I see it they knew about the toxic waste way before "The Cove" came along and they still decided to eat it.

Did you read my comment where I said when whale was served at my sons school(once a year due to price) most of the kids refused it.

Granted my son tasted it but than he was brought up to taste things before saying I don't like it. ;)

Moderator: Stay on topic please.

Capturing highly intelligent wild animals to confine them in tiny pools for the amusement of humans is disgraceful. At least killing them and eating their highly toxic mercury-laden meat puts them out of their misery. Anyone with half a brain would NEVER allow children to eat the toxic meat, though.

As stated many times before - if certain folk want to hunt, kill, eat known contaminated dolphin, then go for it.

Even if it attracts negative publicity, I'd say - Do what you Gotta do!

But just don't play this BS card it's against Japan.

Plenty and I mean Plenty of Japanese people want shite to do with this. As I have repeated here time after time, Japanese friends I know are so livered over the killing that I almost gotta calm 'em down and tell them look at the "Bigger Picture". But no. They are hell bent on seeing this as evil.

So PLEEEEZZ keep the "We Japanese" bit way out of it.

And truly I hold no ill feelings for those who want to eat dolphin and feed it to their loved ones. None whatsoever.

One thing that totally confuses me people say japan is wrong for using wild dolpins in their parks.

But the USA, etc is right for using Dolphins bred in captivity(ie dolphins that never knew what it truly means to be a dolphin and experience the glory of the oceans).

Just can't wrap my head around that type of thinking.

If I could import Dolphin meat from Taiji I would do so just to show my support!

If I could import Dolphin meat from Taiji I would do so just to show my support!

If you have balls - why don't you try it?

I wouldn't import from Taiji, try all the other japanese and foreign locations first.

Had it not been for Sea Sheperd and other whale fanatics, I would never have known about this village in Wakayama Prefecture. Now, I want to go to the village and show them my support with the local people of the village. 頑張れ！

Now, I want to go to the village and show them my support with the local people of the village.

Good luck getting a hotel there - I hear gaijin are not exactly welcomed with open arms in Taiji!

for real they must be commuting from osaka or sleeping in cars

"Nationalist groups say criticism of dolphin hunting is a denigration of Japanese culture."

Hahaha... and yet they don't stop to think for a split-second that perhaps THEIR actions in general are a denigration of Japanese culture. There isn't less of a blight in this entire nation than these guys driving around in black trucks, blaring about how the Emperor is god, foreigners devils, threatening violence (and committing it), etc. etc.

neogreenjapan: "Had it not been for Sea Sheperd and other whale fanatics, I would never have known about this village in Wakayama Prefecture. Now, I want to go to the village and show them my support with the local people of the village. 頑張れ!"

And here's the 'funny' part; if you're a foreigner they would take one look at you and hate your guts, knowing not a single thing about you or what you stand for. If you told them you were supporting you they would make you a poster boy; not because of what you believe in or stand for, but because your eyes and actions they look good to the media. They don't honestly care about your support -- they care about how such support would make them look to others. It's a microcosm of how movies are treated in Japan, in fact; if it makes Japan look exciting or good, it hits screens here at the same time as in Hollywood, with massive fan-fare. If it criticizes and/or makes Japan look silly or bad, it gets relegated to repetoire cinemas, threatened, and possibly not screened at all. Heck, "Lost in Translation", despite its two Academy Awards, wasn't screened here for nearly a year and a half after it was finished its run in North America and other nations, and only then in repetoire cinemas. Needless to say, The Cove hasn't really been received well.

Actually I am half Japanese and speak fluent Japanese with no accent, if I tell people that I am Japanese in Japanese, people believe me. And, besides there are other foreign countries which kill whales, including Canada, USA, Iceland, Denmark, Norway. A guy that I knew from Norway went there and made a report about the traumatized village in a news paper. He said he got nothing but friendly smiles, and felt very welcome. I think if you go there and try to lecture what they do is backward, you will not be welcomed. This is universal. If you treat others with respect people tend to respect you too. Thank you for lecturing me about Japan, positive smithinjapan, enjoying the good life in Japan, I see.

I can't believe there isn't a discussion of the fact that no dolphins were killed. What are the details concerning that? Is it a ploy? Only temporary?

I can't believe there isn't a discussion of the fact that no dolphins were killed. What are the details concerning that? Is it a ploy? Only temporary?

They catch them and keep them in the cove. Then they kill them. Sort of like rounding a bunch of sheep before they are sent to the slaughter house.

Japanese people would be better off shrugging and saying, "So what?" rather than playing the poopypants victim card every time.

Why is it so hard to realize that people criticize Japan for their actions because they disagree with those actions. Not because of an irrational hatred of Japanese people.

As to those who want to go import and chow down on acres of dolphin meat in solidarity with Taiji, you're welcome to it. Enjoy your Minamata Disease.

Enjoy your Minamata Disease.

I think the whole mercury discussion should not be misused to demonize the meat of whale and dolphin, but should be used to address the continued pollution of the oceans by the industrialized west.

And if we talk about mercury in sea creatures, we need to include the worlds favorite fish: tuna.

People find it racist in every whaling country actually. Including Japan.

Really? Because frankly dude I think you just pulled that out of your ass. So when lets say Germany rips into Norway or Iceland for doing it they believe Germans are being racist or how about when the Brits do it? Does Norway and Iceland find them Brits to be racist?

BurakuminDes-If you have balls - why don't you try it?

Believe me I've looked for it on google and can find no place that imports. Now on the opposite end are you donating to O'Barrys wallet so he can do what he does best give all gaijin a bad name by forcing his crappy values down other peoples throat?

kyoken - I agree with you - but would have to add the industrialized east to the industrialized west, otherwise people might think you're biased.

And yes, the worlds (and most certainly by the proverbial mile Japans) favorite fish should be focussed on by all those concerned with food safety.

But I think the last time it was brought up here, it kinda got filed in the "important things we must do when all the other important things are done" file.

頑張れTaiji!! Please keep on hunting and harvesting and live in harmony with nature. Be proud. No need to listen to these clueless people. Brush it off.

Hello. What kind of people disrepect, cruely kill, sell and then eat dolphins and whales? Lost ghost people do. They are haunting Japan and the World. Love them and be kind to them. Why? Their endless soul suffering & mental nightmares are now upon the World Stage. Like famous melodramatic actors they know their roles well because they have been playing the same boring roles for over 400 years. Their role has been one of destroying their Brothers and Sisters of the Sea. There is no peace and honor in this kind of heart and culture.

Will they change and stop this cruelty towards Living Beings who are Part of Them? Not until they can create enough Courage to admit that they are really Good People and they Can Create a Whole New Role. In this way these suffering human souls will be finally free, happy and At Peace. They will ultimately finally end being cruel to themselves.

Hello. There is no peace and honor in the kind of heart and culture that live like Ghost People. Ghost people mindlessly and endlessly do the same harmful thing over and over again. It is a mental trick that haunts them but they don't even know they are doing it. They are thinking that what they are doing is "good", but their hearts and souls know otherwise. It is a self-imposed captivity and killing of their love and compassion to be cruel. If you are confused about this you are probably a Ghost Person yourself.

Will Ghost People ever change and stop cruelty towards Living Beings? Yes! When Ghost People can create enough Courage to admit that they are really Good People and that they Can Create Love for all Living Beings, the cruelty ends. When this happens Ghost People Become Real People because they begin Loving Life. In this way these suffering human souls will be finally Free, Happy and At Peace, and Protect Their Brothers and Sisters of the Sea.

http://www1.umn.edu/ships/ethics/minamata.htm - Ever heard of the history of Minamata disease? Please read.