A number of species are regularly hunted through this region. In Japan, in shockingly cruel drive hunts, dolphins and small whales are driven into shallow bays and slaughtered with knives every year. Some dolphins are slaughtered for their meat and now, increasingly the aquarium industry pays larger sums for dolphins captured alive. We research and document these hunts, exposing the link between drive hunts and the captivity industry and highlighting the terrible suffering endured by dolphins captured and killed.
Recently, fisheries bycatch in West Pacific net and trawl fisheries has increased.
Of the river dolphins the baiji, a highly endangered species whose numbers may be as low as 200 individuals, are frequently caught on the rolling hooks used to snag fish along the Yangtze River.
Habitat degradation is likely very high in a number of coastal region, but little is known about the populations distribution of impact.
WDCS's historical contribution to this region has included conservation projects to protect:
WDCS Whaling and Dolphins Hunts Programme
WDCS Captivity Programme
WDCS Species Programme
Help us save whales and dolphins