The 2009 film “The Cove” exposed the “tradition” of the dolphin hunt in the western port town of Taiji, showing some dolphins being taken alive for sale to marine parks, some being released and others being killed for meat, according to Reuters.
Japan’s association of zoos and aquariums reportedly stated on Wednesday that it would stop buying dolphins taken in the controversial hunt.
The drive hunt method that is used in the region involves pushing the animals together with boats and closing off their escape and forcing them into a coastal bay, according to Discovery News.
“JAZA will prohibit its members to acquire wild dolphins caught by drive fishing in Taiji and to take part in their export and sale,” JAZA chair Kazutoshi Arai said in a letter to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Japan was reportedly told a month ago that it would face losing membership of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums unless it stopped buying dolphins from Taiji.
Taiji residents have reportedly defended the drive hunt for years, stating that the dolphin meat obtained in the process is a traditional part of their diet. Japan reportedly maintains that dolphins and whales are an important marine resource and should be hunted sustainably.
“We don’t think taking the dolphins from the wild is cruel, we aren’t criticizing the hunt and we don’t expect to change our stance,” stated Arai.
“But this decision has been made by the international organization, so we now have to put much more emphasis on breeding.”
