U.S., Japan at odds over dolphin hunts

U.S., Japan at odds over dolphin hunts

The United States and Japan have been staunch allies for 60 years, but disagree over Japan's annual slaughter of dolphins in a small cove in a Japanese town. While Japanese defenders of the practice say it's a cultural ritual, many Americans say it's brutal murder.

American conservation activists have long been critics of the hunt for dolphins in the small Japanese town of Taiji. Every year, fishermen attack dolphins with knives after driving them to a small cove. After the dolphins are captured, they are either sold to international aquariums or killed for eating.

Japanese supporters of the practice, including government spokesperson Yoshihide Suga, say that dolphin hunts are a centuries-old tradition. Defenders also say that dolphin is a rare delicacy in the country, and hunting them keeps them from eating too many fish and disrupting Japan’s marine ecosystem. Tajii’s mayor defiantly said that “We are not going to change our plans for the town based on the criticism of foreigners”.

Dolphin hunts are big business in Japan, with sales of the animals to aquariums drawing large sums of money. Tajii has plans to build a marine park of its own. Plans are underway to have the park filled with dolphins on display as the main attractions and offered as the main course for tourists, too.

Critics of the dolphin hunts include many high-profile celebrities and dignitaries. The U.S. ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, tweeted that she is “deeply concerned by inhumaneness of drive hunt dolphin killing. ” Guns ‘n’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum also took to social media to express his disapproval of the dolphin hunt, saying Japanese fishermen care more about “ greed not tradition.

In addition to Kennedy and Sorum, animal rights and conservationist groups have been campaigning to stop the hunts for years. Many activists believe that thousands of dolphins are killed each year during the slaughter. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is observing the fishermen and condemning the hunts. “Babies and mothers will be torn from each other’s sides as some are taken for captivity, some are killed, and others are driven back out to sea to fend for themselves,” the organization said in a statement.

An Oscar-winning documentary about the practice, The Cove, brought worldwide attention to the dolphin hunts. The movie brought worldwide attention to the dolphin hunts, and Kennedy’s comments and actions from conservation groups have only brought more attention to this controversial practice. Japan and the United States are in a stand-off that pits an ancient tradition against modern-day animal rights activism.

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