9月1日、和歌山県太地町で国内唯一となるイルカ追い込み漁が解禁された。これに合わせて、海外の動物愛護団体らが港で抗議運動を繰り広げている。
警察や海上保安部による物々しい警備のなか、和歌山県太地町のイルカ追い込み漁が解禁日を迎えた。初日の１日は荒波で中止となったが、町には漁に反対する複数の団体のメンバーらが集まった。港で大きな旗をなびかせたり横断幕を広げたりしてイルカ漁に抗議したが、心配されていたような混乱はなく、関係者は安堵（あんど）の表情を浮かべていた。
（朝日新聞デジタル「イルカ漁解禁、初日は荒波で中止 和歌山・太地」より 2014/09/02）
太地町のイルカ漁は、2009年に全米で公開されたドキュメンタリー映画「ザ・コーヴ」で大きく知られることとなり、海外のセレブを中心に漁への批判が上がった。映画では、イルカを捕獲する場面を隠し撮りするシーンがあるなど、日本での公開は物議を醸した。
動物愛護団体「シー・シェパード」は実力行使で漁の妨害を試み、漁の隠し撮りをするなど反対派と現地との衝突も起こっている。
また、2014年1月にはキャロライン・ケネディ在日駐米大使も追い込み漁への反対を表明。イルカ漁を取り巻く状況は厳しさを増している。
映画をきっかけとしたイルカ漁への反対運動に対し、和歌山県は映画で描かれたような残酷な捕獲の方法はしていないこと、固有の文化であるなどとして反論している。
9月1日のイルカ漁の解禁を迎え、地元漁協や警察など関係者が協議。反対運動に対して注視することで一致している。一方で、海外ではイギリス、フィリピンなどで反対集会が開催されたほか、Twitterではハッシュタグ #Taiji でイルカ漁廃止を訴えるソーシャル運動も起こっている。
太地町のイルカ漁に反対する人々
JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-ANIMAL-DOLPHIN(01 of13)
Protected by police officers demonstrators display placards during a protest march against an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, in central Tokyo on August 31, 2014. Almost 30 protesters staged the demonstration to protest against the annual dolphin hunt which starts on September 1 in Taiji. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images)
PHILIPPINES-JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(02 of13)
Filipino activists hold slogan-placards \'stop the kill\' during a protest at the Japanese embassy against the controversial six-month dolphin hunting, as it kicks-off September 1 in Taiji Japan, in Manila on September 1, 2014. The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on September 1 in the infamous town of Taiji, but bad weather would delay any killing, a local official said. The annual catch, in which people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, was thrust into the global spotlight in 2010 when it became the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary \'The Cove\'. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TED ALJIBE via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-ANIMAL-DOLPHIN(03 of13)
A placard reading \'Stop! Dolphin hunt\' is displayed during a protest against an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, in central Tokyo on August 31, 2014. Almost 30 protesters staged the demonstration to protest against the annual dolphin hunt which starts on September 1 in Taiji. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-ANIMAL-DOLPHIN(04 of13)
Demonstrators display a banner during a protest march against an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, in central Tokyo on August 31, 2014. Almost 30 protesters staged the demonstration to protest against the annual dolphin hunt which starts on September 1 in Taiji. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-ANIMAL-DOLPHIN(05 of13)
Protected by police officers demonstrators display a banner during a protest march against an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, in central Tokyo on August 31, 2014. Almost 30 protesters staged the demonstration to protest against the annual dolphin hunt which starts on September 1 in Taiji. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-ANIMAL-DOLPHIN(06 of13)
Demonstrators display placards during a protest march against an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, in central Tokyo on August 31, 2014. Almost 30 protesters staged the demonstration to protest against the annual dolphin hunt which starts on September 1 in Taiji. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images)
JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-ANIMAL-DOLPHIN(07 of13)
Protected by police officers demonstrators display a banner during a protest march against an annual dolphin hunt in Taiji, in central Tokyo on August 31, 2014. Almost 30 protesters staged the demonstration to protest against the annual dolphin hunt which starts on September 1 in Taiji. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA via Getty Images)
AUSTRALIA-JAPAN-ANIMAL-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(08 of13)
Protesters hold banners to create awareness for Japan Dolphin Day in Sydney on August 30, 2014. The international day of awareness \'Japan Dolphin Day\' marks the beginning of the dolphin drive hunting season in Taiji, Japan with nearly 80 events and demonstrations at consulates and other venues planned all over the world on or around September 1. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER PARKS via Getty Images)
AUSTRALIA-JAPAN-ANIMAL-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(09 of13)
Protesters hold banners to create awareness for Japan Dolphin Day in Sydney on August 30, 2014. The international day of awareness \'Japan Dolphin Day\' marks the beginning of the dolphin drive hunting season in Taiji, Japan with nearly 80 events and demonstrations at consulates and other venues planned all over the world on or around September 1. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PETER PARKS via Getty Images)
PHILIPPINES-JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(10 of13)
A Filipino activist holds a glass decorated with dolphins during a protest at the Japanese embassy against the controversial six-month dolphin hunting, as it kicks-off September 1 in Taiji Japan, in Manila on September 1, 2014. The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on September 1 in the infamous town of Taiji, but bad weather would delay any killing, a local official said. The annual catch, in which people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, was thrust into the global spotlight in 2010 when it became the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary \'The Cove\'. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TED ALJIBE via Getty Images)
PHILIPPINES-JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(11 of13)
A Filipino activist performs a street play during a protest at the Japanese embassy against the controversial six-month dolphin hunting, as it kicks-off September 1 in Taiji Japan, in Manila on September 1, 2014. The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on September 1 in the infamous town of Taiji, but bad weather would delay any killing, a local official said. The annual catch, in which people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, was thrust into the global spotlight in 2010 when it became the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary \'The Cove\'. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TED ALJIBE via Getty Images)
PHILIPPINES-JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(12 of13)
Filipino activists hold slogan-placards \'stop the kill\' during a protest at the Japanese embassy against the controversial six-month dolphin hunting, as it kicks-off September 1 in Taiji Japan, in Manila on September 1, 2014. The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on September 1 in the infamous town of Taiji, but bad weather would delay any killing, a local official said. The annual catch, in which people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, was thrust into the global spotlight in 2010 when it became the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary \'The Cove\'. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TED ALJIBE via Getty Images)
PHILIPPINES-JAPAN-ENVIRONMENT-CONSERVATION-DOLPHIN(13 of13)
Filipino activists hold slogan-placards \'stop the kill\' during a protest at the Japanese embassy against the controversial six-month dolphin hunting, as it kicks-off September 1 in Taiji Japan, in Manila on September 1, 2014. The controversial six-month dolphin hunting season began on September 1 in the infamous town of Taiji, but bad weather would delay any killing, a local official said. The annual catch, in which people from the southwestern town corral hundreds of dolphins into a secluded bay and butcher them, was thrust into the global spotlight in 2010 when it became the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary \'The Cove\'. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE (Photo credit should read TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:TED ALJIBE via Getty Images)
【イルカ漁関連の記事】
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