Taiji Drive Hunt Figures and Analysis 2000 to Present day

Do you really need to eat dolphins?

The Taiji Drive Hunt has changed its market over the past 14 years, now catering more for the Marine Park Industry. From the capture data below you can see the Marine Park Industry growing over that time period, with last season being the highest with 247 live captures.

The capture and slaughter figures have remained pretty much the same for the past 14 years with the only significant change being the amount and types of captures being taken. In 2000 only bottle nose dolphins were captured followed by bottle nose and false killer whales, then onto all different breeds. It is also quite unnerving that for 8 of those 14 years despite being in the quota's,  false killer whales have not been captured, and only 100 Pacific white sided dolphins have been captured in 14 years, which raises the question of sustainability and whether Japan is working from reliable stock data, which record has it is 20 years old.

In 14 years 18486 dolphins and small whales  were captured ,   16812  were slaughtered and 1334  were taken captive.

This year there has been more media attention and more awareness and everyone needs to continue to protest this, in order to bring this Slaughter to an end. 

 People can ask their own their Governments to ban the importation of cetaceans,  contact Japanese  Embassies,  , Fisheries ministry,  Japanese Prime Minister,    the parks buying from Taiji  and those holding dolphin shows, swim with dolphins, and dolphin therapy programmes across the globe as they also encourage people and other countries to copy their example.  You could also ask the International Whaling Committee to include small cetaceans in their protection policies. 

There are also numerous PETITIONs to sign, your signature could be the one that makes a difference.


In the 2000 season   2077 were captured   2009  slaughtered    68 taken captive
In the 2001 season   1226 were captured   1191  slaughtered    35 taken captive
In the 2002 season   2011 were captured   1935  slaughtered    76 taken captive
In the 2003 season    732 were captured     708   slaughtered    24  taken captive
In the 2004 season  1635 were captured   1533   slaughtered   102 taken captive  no release data
In the 2005 season  1062 were captured   1022   slaughtered    40 taken captive
In the 2006 season  1624 were captured   1494   slaughtered  130 taken captive
In the 2007 season  1239 were captured   1149   slaughtered    90 taken captive
In the 2008 season  1495 were captured   1199   slaughtered    96 taken captive
In the 2009 season  1242 were captured   1122   slaughtered  120 taken captive  
In the 2010 season  1297 were captured   1018   slaughtered    98 taken captive    181 released
In the 2011 season    848 were captured     750   slaughtered    50 taken captive      48 released 
In the 2012 season  1486 were captured     899   slaughtered  247 taken captive    340 releasedIn the 2013 season  1412 were captured     783   slaughtered  158 taken captive    422 released

TOTAL            18486  were captured        16812 slaughtered    1334 taken captive

In the 2000 season  2077 were captured 2009 were slaughtered and 68 taken captive

Bottlenose                                  1339  caught    1271 killed         68 live captures
Pilot Whales short finned               109  caught      109 killed           0 live captures
Risso's dolphins                            367  caught       367 killed           0 live captures
Pantropical Dolphins                       27  caught         27 killed          0  live captures
Striped Dolphins                           235  caught       235 killed          0 live captures

In 2001 a total of 1,226 animals were captured

In the 2001 season 1226 were captured 1191 were slaughtered and 35 taken captive

Bottlenose                                    207 caught        195 killed          12 live captures

False killer whale                            29  caught         18 killed          11 live captures
Pilot Whales short finned               212 caught        210 killed           2 live captures
Risso's dolphins                             353 caught        350 killed            3 live captures
Striped dolphins                            418 caught        418 killed            0 live captures

In the 2002 season 2011 were captured 1935 were slaughtered and 76 taken captive

Bottlenose                                    760 caught         688 killed           72 live captures
False killer whales                            7 caught             7 killed               0 live captures
Pilot whales short finned                 55 caught           55 killed               0 live captures
Risso's dolphins                            221 caught        220  killed              1 live capture
Pantropical Spotted dolphins        403 caught         400 killed              3 live captures
Striped dolphins                           565 caught         565 killed              0 live captures

In the 2003 season 732 were captured 708 were slaughtered and 24  taken captive

Bottlenose                                   121 caught          105 killed             16 live captures
False killer whale                           17 caught            12 killed               5 live captures
Pilot whales short finned                55 caught            55 killed                0 live captures
Risso's dolphins                             55 caught            55 killed                0 live captures
Pantropical Spotted dolphins       102 caught            99 killed                3 live captures
Striped dolphins                          382 caught          382 killed                0 live captures

In the 2004 season 1635 were captured  1533 were slaughtered and 102 taken captive

Bottlenose                                   575 caught            480 killed              95 live captures
Pilot whales short finned                62 caught              62 killed                0 live captures
Risso's dolphins                           444 caught           437  killed               7 live captures
Striped dolphins                          554 caught           554  killed                0 live captures

In the 2005 season 1062 were captured   1022 slaughtered  40 taken captive

Bottlenose                                   285 caught             249 killed               36 live captures
Pilot whales short finned                40 caught               38 killed                 2 live captures
Risso's dolphins                           340 caught             340 killed                 0 live captures
Striped dolphins                          397 caught             395 killed                 2 live captures

In the 2006 season 1624 were captured    1494 slaughtered  130 taken captive

Bottlenose                                  285 caught              200 killed               85 live captures
False killer whales                         30 caught                  6 killed               24 live captures
Pilot Whale short finned              198 caught              190 killed                 8 live captures
Risso's dolphins                          232 caught              232 killed                  0 live captures
Pantropical spotted dolphins       400 caught              387 killed                13 live captures
Striped dolphins                         479 caught              479 killed                  0 live captures

In the 2007 season  1239 were captured   1149 slaughtered  90 taken captive

Bottlenose                                  300 caught               223 killed                77 live captures
Pilot Whales short finned             243 caught              238 killed                  5 live captures
Risso's dolphins                          312 caught               304 killed                  8 live captures
Striped dolphins                          384 caught               384 killed                 0 live captures

In the 2008 season 1495 were captured   1199 slaughtered  96 taken captive

Bottlenose                                  297 caught               240 killed               57 live captures
Pacific white sided dolphins          21 caught                   5 killed                16 live captures
Pantropical Spotted dolphins      329 caught               320 killed                  9 live captures
Pilot whales short finned               99 caught                 98 killed                  1 live capture
Risso's dolphins                          216 caught               208 killed                 8 live captures
Striped dolphins                         533 caught               528 killed                 5 live captures

In the 2009 season 1242 were captured  1122 slaughtered   120 taken captive

Bottlenose                                  252 caught              254 killed                98 live captures
Pacific white sided dolphins         14  caught                  1 killed                 13 live captures
Pilot whales short finned             219 caught              218 killed                   1 live capture
Risso's dolphins                          336 caught             328 killed                   8 live captures
Striped dolphins                         321 caught              321 killed                  0 live captures

In the 2010 season  1297 were captured  1018 slaughtered  98 taken captive 181 released

Bottlenose                                680 caught              460 killed                  62 live captures  158 released
Pilot whales short finned             50 caught                35 killed                    2 live captures    13 released
Risso's dolphins                        238 caught              240 killed                  11 live captures      7 released
Pantropical spotted dolphins       30 caught                30 killed                    0 live captures      0 released
Striped dolphins                       253 caught               251 killed                   2 live captures      0 released
Pacific white sided dolphins        26 caught                  2 killed                   21 live captures     3 released

In the 2011 season 848 were captured    750 slaughtered 50 taken captive  48 released

Bottlenose                                61 caught               24 killed                     12 live captures     24 released
False killer whale                      17 caught                 8 killed                       4 live captures       0 released
Pantropical spotted dolphins   133 caught             132 killed                       2 live captures       0 released
Pacific white sided dolphins        2 caught                 0 killed                       2 live captures       0 released
Risso's dolphins                      272 caught             232 killed                     29 live captures     16 released
Rough toothed dolphins              2 caught                 0 killed                       0 live captures       2 released
Pilot whales short finned           34 caught               30 killed  ?                   0 live captures       4 released
Striped dolphins                     327 caught             324 killed                        1 live capture        2 released

In the 2012 season 1486 were captured  899 slaughtered  247 taken captive   340 released

Bottlenose                            369 caught                79 killed                      156 live captures  134 released
False killer whale                  70 in quota none caught
Pantropical spotted dolphins  135 caught                86 killed                       49 live captures      0 released
Pacific while sided dolphins     32 caught                  8 killed                        24 live captures     0 released
Risso's dolphins                    315 caught              263 killed                        14 live captures    38 released
Pilot whales short finned       291 caught               141 killed                         2 live captures    148 released
Striped dolphins                   344 caught               322 killed                         2 live captures     20 released

In the 2013 season  1412 were captured  783 slaughtered                 158 live captures  422 released
still 3 weeks to go in this current season

Bottlenose                            566 caught               144 killed                     121 live-capture     300 released 
False Killer Whale   quota = 070 ·
Pantropical Spotted             116 caught                101 killed                       015 live-capture   000 released 
Pacific White-sided             008 caught                000 killed                       008 live-capture   000 released  
Risso's                                230 caught                185 killed                       012 live-capture   035 released
Short-finned Pilot                149 caught                061 killed                       001 live-capture   087 released  
Striped                               293 caught                 292 killed                       001 live-capture  000 released ·

Bottlenose : 552 caught · 133 killed · 118 live-capture · 300 released · 251 total take · quota = 557 · 306 more allowed False Killer Whale : 000 caught · 000 killed · 000 live-capture · 000 released · 000 total take · quota = 070 · 070 more allowed Pantropical Spotted : 116 caught · 101 killed · 015 live-capture · 000 released · 116 total take · quota = 400 · 284 more allowed Pacific White-sided : 008 caught · 000 killed · 008 live-capture · 000 released · 008 total take · quota = 134 · 126 more allowed Risso's : 233 caught · 186 killed · 012 live-capture · 035 released · 198 total take · quota = 265 · 067 more allowed Short-finned Pilot : 149 caught · 061 killed · 001 live-capture · 087 released · 062 total take · quota = 137 · 075 more allowed Striped : 298 caught · 297 killed · 001 live-capture · 000 released · 298 total take · quota = 450 · 152 more allowed - See more at: http://www.ceta-base.com/drivefisheries.html#sthash.08a6rwvS.dpuf

Bottlenose: 1,339 total animals caught, 1,271 killed & 68 live captured
Pilot Whale, Short-finned: 109 total animals caught, 109 killed & 0 live captured
Risso's Dolphin: 367 total animals caught, 367 killed & 0 live captured
Spotted Dolphin, Pantropical: 27 total animals caught, 27 killed & 0 live captured
Striped Dolphin: 235 total animals caught, 235 killed & 0 live captured - See more at: http://www.ceta-base.com/drivefisheries.html#sthash.08a6rwvS.dpuf

Bottlenose: 1,339 total animals caught, 1,271 killed & 68 live captured
Pilot Whale, Short-finned: 109 total animals caught, 109 killed & 0 live captured
Risso's Dolphin: 367 total animals caught, 367 killed & 0 live captured
Spotted Dolphin, Pantropical: 27 total animals caught, 27 killed & 0 live captured
Striped Dolphin: 235 total animals caught, 235 killed & 0 live captured - See more at: http://www.ceta-base.com/drivefisheries.html#sthash.08a6rwvS.dpuf

Proof from Taiji - Its not Tradition, its not Culture, its about Captives

              PROOF FROM TAIJI ITSELF - ITS ALL ABOUT THE AQUARIUM BUSINESS!!

An admission came from Seiji Ohsumi, director of the Institute of Cetacean Research, who said in a Japan Times opinion piece ‘Whales and dolphins are kept healthy in Japanese aquariums, as they receive great care from trainers and veterinarians. The reason these undertakings have been successful is the dolphin drive fishery, which supplies living whales and dolphins to aquariums internationally as well as domestically. The fishery has thus contributed to the welfare of people in countries where whales and dolphins are kept in aquariums.’

 The Japan Fisheries Agency included the Pacific White-sided dolphins in the catch-quota of the drive hunt in 2007 and this still stands today.
As a reason for adding this species, the notification cites “a strong request from fishers in recent years to allow their capture.” With the generalization ‘fishers,’ they are referring to the small group of dolphin killers of the Isana Union in Taiji.

The true request for capturing Pacific White-sided dolphins came from the Japan Cetacean Conference on Zoological Gardens and Aquariums.
An internal communication unearthed by Elsa Nature Conservancy, sent on August 16, 2006 by this ‘Conference’ to the directors of zoos and aquariums, noted that Pacific White-sided dolphins were hard to obtain, and that not all aquarium directors who desired to obtain these were able to do so. The letter states, ‘Permission has not been granted to take Pacific White-sided dolphins at Taiji, and therefore drive fisheries for them are not allowed. But if the capture of Pacific White-sided dolphins becomes possible at Taiji, it will benefit aquariums with cetaceans, and fishers.
This was a successful attempt by the organized aquariums that desired Pacific White-sided dolphins, to influence Taiji Town officials and the Fisheries Agency to add this species to the drive hunts.
The memo was from 2006. The drive hunt for Pacific White-sided dolphins got the green light in 2007.
The resulting known captures are:

• 2008: 21 total animals caught, 5 killed & 16 live captured.
• 2009: 14 total animals caught, 1 killed & 13 live captured.
• 2010/11: 26 total animals caught, 2 killed, 21 sold to aquariums & 3 released.
• 2011/12: 2 caught as live-capture.
• 2012/13: 32 caught, 8 killed, 24 live-capture.
• 2013/14: none yet, but there is a quota for 134 animals.

On September 29, 2005, a 13-person delegation from Taiji Town, including its mayor Kazutaka Sangen, Mr Mihara, Chairman of the Council of Taiji Town and Mr Lin Keji curator of the Taiji Whale Museum visited the Beijing Aquarium.

Katsutoshi Mihara

 In an October press release, the Beijing Aquarium proudly announced their friendship with Taiji and ‘the two sides plan to build a platform to archive the imported marine mammals in the aquariums all over China’ and to ‘have negotiations on the import of killer whales’.

Also stating 'the Taiji Whale Museum formerly became a friendly sister of the Beijing Aquarium'

 Almost all Cetaceans in Beijing come from the wild and the Beijing Aquarium also serves as a holding facility for dolphins entering China on their way to other parks.
China is the biggest importer of dolphins from Taiji with a staggering 117 dolphins purchased in just the 3 years of 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Mr Mihara also cast his opinion on the Cove   despite the Taiji town liking the film.

Mr Mihara is an avid whaling fan, which is probably one of the reason the hunt continues in defiance. His IWC statement can be seen here

One of the other collaborators in the mix in Mayor  Kazutaka Sangen

Kazutaka Sangen

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 Mayor Kazutaka Sangen of Taiji, Japan could care less about the effects of mercury and methyl-mercury on the brain. Sangen-sama is building a specially designed slaughterhouse just for dolphins. He wants to kill more of them, he needs a market for the flesh, and the government seems to be quite willing to buy his dolphin meat for the school lunch programs as a very cheap source of protein for growing children. Yes, protein for strong muscles, with mercury thrown in for a weakened brain. Maybe that is what the government wants-weak brained labourers and future dolphin killers. Who knows? What we do know for certain is that deliberately feeding poisoned meat to children in Japan is seemingly okay with the government. They are doing nothing and do not wish to know anything about it.
Mayor Sangen is stifling dissent with threats of violence. When two courageous Japanese Councilmen, Junichiro Yamashita and Hisato Ryono, spoke out publicly against the feeding of mercury-contaminated dolphin meat to children. Read about what the said HERE
Sangen-sama's threats quickly shut up Ryono-sama, who now refuses to mention the issue. Only Yamashita-sama remains with the courage to continue to condemn the dark schemes of Mayor Sangen, the dolphin butcher of Taiji. The dolphin meat WAS taken off the school lunch menu.

Sangen also wants to start a marine park with black whales, bottlenose dolphins and larger whales - see here

In response to Caroline Kennedy's condemnation of the hunt he said '"There always are the people who say it's wrong and it's right, but what we have to see is if fishermen are hunting endangered species or not. They don't. We are fishing under the permission just like the US does." The rest of the report is here

Lastly there is Miyato Sugimori, administrative chief of the Taiji Town Fisheries Association who said ''We have no intention to stop hunting dolphins,”  “Westerners eat cows, Australians eat kangaroos,” Sugimori said. “Japan, including Taiji, is surrounded by ocean, so we eat things from the sea which include fish, whales and dolphins. There’s nothing wrong with that.”  Report here

The statement that stood out to me though was this one -  Sugimori said if dolphin hunting was banned, young people may choose office jobs that pay more rather than join his association, which has an average age of 68. The association filed for bankruptcy and was restructured in February 2007.

Nothing like lining your own pocket, keep them fishing so they stay in your union.

In my opinion these parks and men collaborate purely for money, with no regard for the lives they destroy, the families they rip apart and the dolphins they sentence to a life of slavery.

Selfish marine park visitors provide the want for these dolphin and whale captives, by waving their ticket monies at the parks.

Marine Parks across the globe, see the likes of Seaworld making money and they want some of the same, its nothing to do with the animals.  Underhanded dealing are the norm, Morgan, Kirara as examples.

The Associations supposedly governing the parks and trainers make money from members, what is in it for them to ban people who pay into the Association?

As for the officials of Taiji, Mayor Sangen wanted to build a new meat factory, Mihara is building a dolphin broker platform with China, and Sogimori doesn't want anyone to not be fishing as then they won't be paying into his bankrupt union.

It has nothing to do with Tradition, Culture, or even the Japanese people, it is a few bullies who try to keep people quiet to line their own pockets, from the top to the bottom.

In the meantime, the dolphins can't speak out but we can and do, and will continue until the injustice stops once and for all.