Our colleague at Elsa Nature Conservancy in Japan has obtained samples of dolphin meat from Okinawa from dolphins killed at Taiji. Taiji is trying to sell dolphin meat to Okinawa in order to make up for falling demand in Taiji. If we can show the Okinawans that the Taiji dolphin meat is heavy in toxic chemicals we can cut off that market and slowly strangle Taiji's dolphin meat business helping to end the killing.
Our latest tests of dolphin and pilot whale meat from Taiji done in May of this year showed extreme levels of mercury and PCBs.With this information and the data we will gather from Taiji dolphin meat purchased in Okinawa, we can cut the demand for dolphin meat in Okinawa.
We will also test meat from whales that are being killed in the area of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Not only will we test for mercury and PCBs but also for radiation.
The IWC is an ideal venue to publicize these findings as it is attended by international media, and in particular, a strong contingent of Japanese media reps.