Dolphin drive hunting

Dolphin drive hunting, also called dolphin drive fishing, is a method of hunting dolphins – and occasionally other small cetaceans such as pilot whales – by herding them toward the shore with boats, typically into a bay or onto a beach. Their escape is prevented by closing off the route to the open sea or ocean with boats and nets. Dolphins are hunted this way in several places around the world including the Solomon Islands, the Faroe Islands, Peru, and Japan. The captured animals have been used for their meat; some animals end up in dolphinariums, while in Peru, many are used as shark bait.

Hunts have ended in countries including Iceland and the United States. The practice has attracted protests from animal rights groups in places including the Faroe Islands. There has been concern, too, about the possible health risk from eating meat containing PCB and DDT derivatives and mercury.