Undercover journalist Jim Wickens has managed to catch the practice on film

Oct 18, 2013 19:51 GMT  ·  By
Undercover journalist finds thousands of dolphins are killed by fishermen in Peru each year
   Undercover journalist finds thousands of dolphins are killed by fishermen in Peru each year

Together with green group Mundo Azul, British undercover journalist Jim Wickens has found that fishermen in Peru kill some 10,000 dolphins on a yearly basis.

What's more, it appears that these marine mammals are killed not for human consumption, but in order to be turned into shark bait.

Otherwise put, fishermen in Peru slaughter one species for the sole purpose of having an easier time decimating another one, thus causing significant damage to marine ecosystems.

Peru This Week reports that, in his ITV report, the British journalist details how, together with a colleague working as a photographer, he recently managed to board a Peruvian fishing boat and accompanied the crew on a killing trip hundreds of miles off the country's coast.

He witnessed dusky dolphins being harpooned, pulled aboard and chopped into bits and pieces that were later thrown in the water to attract sharks.

While aboard the vessel, Jim Wickens had the chance to talk to one of the fishermen, who told him that, more often than not, dolphins are killed in this gruesome manner and turned into shark bait because of financial considerations.

Thus, it appears that dolphin meat is cheaper and easier to come by than other types of bait, the same source details. Hence the fact that, although laws in Peru ban the hunting of dolphins, such slaughters are still carried out.

“A lot of people know what is happening, but they don’t want to see it. They don’t want to admit that yes, they hunt dolphins in this way,” the fisherman reportedly added.

Commenting on the findings of this undercover investigation, Alison Wood from Whale and Dolphin Conservation pointed out that, “You can use fish guts, and all sorts of things to bait your hook, you don’t need to use a sentient, intelligent animal like a dolphin.”

“It is an awful waste. We are talking about a highly intelligent, social, feeling animal, and to see them hunted like this, is a terrible waste,” she added.

Footage of the dolphin hunting trip that the British journalist took part in is available at ITV. Fair warning, some people might find the images disturbing, so viewer discretion is recommended.