Taiji dolphin drive hunt

Taiji is a coastal community in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, where between September and February fishermen herd dolphins into a sheltered bay. The animals are either captured alive or killed there, with some destined for aquariums and others entering the local meat supply.

The community began commercial whaling operations in 1606, initially equipped with hand harpoons. From 1675 onward, fishermen introduced nets to expand their hunting of marine mammals.

The Japan Fisheries Agency sets annual quotas permitting the capture of multiple dolphin species, including bottlenose, striped, Risso's, and spotted dolphins.

Dolphin meat often contains elevated levels of mercury contamination, prompting the Japanese Ministry of Health to issue consumption warnings. Particular caution is recommended for children and pregnant women.

The current killing method uses a metal pin to sever the spinal cord of dolphins. This technique replaced earlier procedures that were prohibited under animal welfare regulations.