By: Joy H. Montgomery
In the 1973 cult classic film, "The Day of the Dolphin," a pair of dolphins are stolen and used in an assassination plot against the president of the United States. Of course, this sci-fi flick is pure fiction, but even in real life, dolphins are sought after, and many of them do end up in deadly scenarios. Although dolphin hunting is off-limits in most areas of the world, there are still some countries that allow it. Here, we take a look at a few of the most frequently asked questions about this practice, including how it happens, which dolphin species it affects, and what anti-hunting efforts exist.
How do people hunt dolphins?
Dolphin hunting usually involves a technique called "drive fishing" or "drive hunting," where fishermen in boats bang metal poles with hammers to create a sound beneath the water that confuses the dolphins. Hunters then chase the disoriented dolphins toward shore, eventually driving them into shallow coves or inlets. Sometimes, however, dolphins are captured in the same fashion as whales, with the use of harpoons or crossbows shot from large ships.
Why are dolphins hunted?
According to the hunters themselves, dolphin hunting is not just an occupation; it's a proud part of their culture, one that extends back hundreds if not thousands of years. But pride and history aren't the only reasons why people continue to hunt dolphins. Money is an overriding motivator for dolphin hunters in Japan, who can sell dolphins to unaccredited facilities, primarily in Asia, for a large profit. Additionally, dolphin meat is sold in grocery stores or to fishermen who use the meat as bait. Some people in small fishing villages even use dolphin teeth as currency. In the Faroe Islands, dolphin meat is divided among local families, not sold commercially.
Learn more about why people hunt dolphins.
What is the history of dolphin hunting?
The practice of dolphin drive hunting has a long history, dating back hundreds if not thousands of years. Originally, fishermen would surround a school of dolphins with a wide semicircle of boats, then drop stones into the water, driving them to shore. Kiribati, Peru, Taiwan and Hawaii used to hunt dolphins in this way, but dolphin hunting is now illegal in all four areas. Japan, the Solomon Islands and the Faroe Islands are the three locations where the practice continues today. In many respects, dolphin hunting methods haven't changed, except that today's hunters bang on metal rods to drive dolphins to shore.
What countries currently hunt dolphins?
Japan is currently the largest nation that conducts dolphin hunts, but drive fishing does occur on a smaller scale in other areas of the world, including the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific and the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic. Although dolphin hunting is now illegal in Peru and Chile, some fishermen reportedly continue the practice in remote areas where it is difficult to enforce the laws.
What do dolphins experience during a hunt?
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) and countless other animal rights organizations consider dolphin hunting inhumane. It's a long process in which hunters usually chase the dolphins for many hours to get them into shallow water. Once trapped, the dolphins -- confused and desperate to escape -- are often left overnight to thrash around. Those purchased by the entertainment industry (specifically in countries where, unlike in the United States, it remains legal to do so) end up forcefully separated from their mothers or pod family and must adapt to strange new living conditions. The remaining dolphins are killed with sharp spears for their meat and teeth.
What species do hunters most commonly target?
The most commonly hunted dolphin species are the bottlenose, striped and spotted varieties. Hunters also occasionally pursue and capture spinner dolphins and risso's dolphins.
How many dolphins are hunted annually worldwide?
The WDCS estimates that hunters kill more than 20,000 dolphins a year, but it's impossible to know an exact figure. That estimate doesn't include the dolphins that are sold to non-accredited facilities.
