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Unlikely allies attempt to stop dolphin killing

Posted February 02, 2012 21:47:00

A US Federal Agent and a local town councillor are using different approaches to try and end the killing of dolphins and whales in Taiji, made famous in the documentary The Cove. A note, this report contains distressing and confronting images.

Source: 7.30 | Duration: 6min 29sec

Topics: international-law, endangered-and-protected-species, fishing-aquaculture, activism-and-lobbying, japan, united-states


CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: The annual battle between Japanese whalers and conservationists on the southern oceans has become a summer media ritual. But there's far less focus on another hunt along Japan's own shores. Every year, Japanese fishermen harvest about 20,000 dolphins and small whales as part of what they say is a centuries-old tradition. The biggest hunt is in Taiji, a town in western Japan which was the subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove several years ago.

The ABC's North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy travelled to the town, and a warning: his report contains distressing and confronting images.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: It's a seemingly tranquil coastline. But for those who pass here, there are lurking dangers and possibly death. Taiji is infamous for a single secluded inlet known simply as The Cove and for its blood red tide.

SCOTT WEST, SEA SHEPHERD: They will drag the dolphins by their tails up onto the rocky beach in the shallow cove area and drive a steel rod down through their spine, but the steel rod is removed and then a wooden plug is put into the whole and then pounded into place with a wooden mallet, all for the intention of keeping the blood from filling the cove.

HISATO RYONO, TAIJI COUNCILLOR (voiceover translation): Everyone here says it's tradition or culture, but they do it simply for profit. It's a business, not a tradition.

MARK WILLACY: The dolphin hunt in Taiji was brought to worldwide attention by the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove. It showed how every year here about 2,000 dolphins and pilot whales are herded into a bay. The best specimens are separated from the pod and sold off to marine parks and hotels. The rest are driven into this narrow inlet and stabbed and slashed to death before being butchered for their meat. Despite the global outcry caused by The Cove, Taiji is refusing to stop what it calls a tradition.

It's before dawn and Sea Shepherd leader Scott West and his team of 10 activists are making their daily trip to The Cove. They're here to watch and count the number of dolphins taken by the fishermen.

SCOTT WEST, SEA SHEPHERD: Well right now we're headed into the harbour to check on the 12 dolphin hunting boats.

MARK WILLACY: But the watchers are also being watched. Every morning, squads of police are waiting for the activists.

TROY COYLE, SEA SHEPHERD ACTIVIST: It doesn't really bother me, but I find it really strange. I mean, we probably have about five policemen per individual and everywhere you go, they turn up.

MARK WILLACY: As the dawn breaks, they also want to know who I am and why I've turned up in Taiji.

Nearby in the harbour, the dolphin hunters are setting out. With conditions clear and calm, it's a perfect day to spring their trap.

Taiji's fishermen have been stalking these mammals for centuries. The fishermen and the town's mayor refused to speak to 7.30. But it's clear that the presence of Sea Shepherd and other activists in Taiji has got some people's blood boiling.

MAN WITH MEGAPHONE: Go back home! Please, go back home!

MARK WILLACY: Only one resident would speak with us, a man who's braved ostracism and threats to voice his opposition to the slaughter, not because it's cruel, but because he regards dolphin meat as poison.

HISATO RYONO (voiceover translation): I read that the council would use the dolphin meat for school lunches, so I did some tests of the meat and it was found the mercury level in the dolphin meat exceeded the safe level.

SCOTT WEST: Well they're poisoning themselves, they're poisoning their children. It's insane.

MARK WILLACY: This former environmental protection agency officer wears his heart on his sleeve. His team gathers after every hunt to upload on the internet what they witness.

SCOTT WEST: Because of our presence here and the cameras and the attention that we're bringing, the dolphin killers are forcing themselves to conceal their efforts through more and more extraordinary means. They're having to use tarps to cover up The Cove itself. The time and energy that they're putting into preventing us from getting this photography is taking that time and energy away from their ability to kill.

MARK WILLACY: This is as close to The Cove as I can get. The entrance to The Cove is just behind me across the water. If I was to scale over those rocks, around that fence, I would be immediately arrested by the police.

Everywhere I go during my stay in Taiji, the police aren't far behind. But today, out on the water, the pursuit is much more aggressive.

So this is perfect conditions for hunting dolphins?

SCOTT WEST: It's an OK day from their perspective, which means it's potentially a terrible day for dolphins.

MARK WILLACY: Sea Shepherd believes its presence here has disrupted the hunt, saying the usual kill was halved last year. There's a belief both among foreign activists and at least one Taiji resident that the days of the dolphin slaughter are numbered.

HISATO RYONO: It will end soon. The fishermen are not making profits anymore because the meat is not selling. No-one wants to eat it.

SCOTT WEST: We're confident that this is going to be successful, that there will be an end to this hunt and it's gonna come about through infinite patience.

MARK WILLACY: And today at least, the hunters return empty-handed.

SCOTT WEST: Alright, that was the last boat. It's a good day for dolphins in Taiji.

CHRIS UHLMANN: Mark Willacy with that report.