Paul Turner

Dolphin meat has high levels of mercury

By Natalie Ragan

On September 25, 2007, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International joined the Animal Welfare Institute and many other concerned groups and individuals in observing the third annual worldwide Japan Dolphin Day.  

Japan Dolphin Day aims to show Japan that the world will not tolerate its cruel drive fisheries. In Washington, D.C., for example, more than 30 animal advocates gathered outside the Japanese Embassy to demonstrate their disapproval. This year's activities included a march to the embassy and a reenactment of the hunt, where "fishermen" drove pods of "dolphins" to the embassy. Spirits were high and advocates determined, as cars honked and passersby cheered their support for the demonstrators. One attendee, Charlotte Mead, called Dolphin Day "well worth the time and a great experience," adding, "It made one feel like they really did something for animals."  

Thousands of dolphins are rounded up each year in Taiji, a coastal town in Japan. Most are brutally killed for their meat, while some are set aside alive for use in dolphin shows or swim-with-the-dolphins programs. Adding to the pressure on Japan this year was the recent admission by Taiji officials that dolphin meat contains high levels of mercury, which is especially dangerous to pregnant women and children. The mercury contamination has long been known of by scientists and animal protection advocates, but until now no Japanese officials have been willing to stand up and protest the distribution of this meat in school lunch programs and hospitals.

Staff at HSI Latin America, based in Costa Rica, also raised their voices for the dolphins by leading an event in the country's capital city, San Jose. More than 30 animal advocates gathered, as well as 10 members of the local media. The advisor to the Japanese ambassador made an appearance and gave interviews on behalf of the embassy.

Eighty-three other NGOs joined the protest at 40 different Japanese embassies worldwide. A Belgian group brought a bathtub filled with "blood" to their local embassy. In Vancouver, concerned advocates held signs reading "Vancouver Aquarium accomplice to Japanese massacre!" as two of the aquarium's dolphins came from Taiji.

Protestors around the globe spoke for the dolphins in many different languages on Japan Dolphin Day; yet they had one common message: to end the cruel drive fisheries in Japan once and for all.