U.S. organizations like the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA) prop up the dolphin hunts by allowing their “trainers” to be directly involved in the bloody capture process. While SeaWorld has not imported dolphins from Taiji since the 1980s, the company has strong links with IMATA, employing their members and hosting their annual conference. Even though every major aquarium has distanced itself from Taiji (including SeaWorld), IMATA refuses to do so. IMATA – based not in Tokyo but Chicago – actually endorses the horrifying captures and even allows its members to participate in them. The method of capture is called a drive, because the boats literally herd terrified dolphins into a shallow cove. Once there, the young, good-looking ones are captured and sold to aquariums. This may sound like a simple process, but dolphins weigh a lot and they struggle against the nets. They don’t want to be torn away from their families, so many resist and drown. Young mothers and babies struggle to survive the cruel selection process. The “rejected” dolphins are then brutally stabbed, killed for their meat, a cheap by-product of the profitable captures. IMATA not only supports the hunts by allowing its members to be involved, but they also mislead the public by insisting the organization exercises “the highest levels of respect and humaneness for all animals”. This supposed “ethic” is farcical when compared with what actually happens in a Taiji drive hunt. Photo of the 6 activists from #surfersforcetaceans Taiji protest @isabellucas @hannahmermaid #daverastovich #peterheller @haydenpanetierre #karinapetroni #taiji #japan #dolphindrive #dolphin #protection #conservation #educate #share #thecove #mindsinthewater @australiafordolphins (at Taiji, Wakayama)
