Dall’s porpoises are stunningly beautiful, and are known for
their incredible speed and agility – but they are no match for
modern ships and lethal harpoons thrown by the hands of Japanese
fishermen. From the Environmental Investigation Agency: The port
of Otsuchi, in northern Japan, is the focal point of the hand
harpoon hunt which has claimed up to 15,000 Dall’s porpoises in
a single year; this year’s hunt began on November 1st. “In the
past 20 years, more than 300,000 Dall’s porpoises have been
hunted just to produce toxic meat for human consumption,” said
EIA Senior Campaigner Clare Perry. “Most Japanese people know
nothing of the Dall’s hunt and yet they continue to be misled
about it, both in regard to the true nature of the resulting
products and to the very serious health risks of eating such
contaminated meat. “The only impediment to this year’s hunt
taking place appears to be the physical damage to the industry
caused by the tsunami; there’s certainly nothing to indicate any
significant change in of