83 dolphins killed by Brazilian fishing vessel

A harrowing video clip aired on Brazilian television this week has revealed that 83 dolphins suffocated to death in the nets of a Brazilian fishing vessel. The killing took place at a point close to the mouth of the Amazon River and was captured on film by a researcher onboard making an undercover investigation into fish catches.

The Brazilian Institute for Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), a government agency operating under the Ministry of the Environment, released the video footage which also shows a huge pile of dead dolphins on the deck of the boat.

The dolphins seen in the footage appear to be tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis guianensis) a species which is seriously threatened by an ongoing problem of fisheries bycatch in Brazilian waters.

Reports suggest that the meat from such catches is used as bait to attract sharks, or sold to other fishermen as bait. In addition, the teeth, eyes and penis of dolphins also have a commercial value on the local market. Plans are being discussed to impose fishing restrictions along parts of Brazil's coast where dolphins are regularly sighted, in the hope that this might reduce such incidents.

‘Perhaps most alarming thing is the unrepentant attitude of the fishermen who were captured on film saying that ‘Everyone's going to jail after this filming!’. The fishermen were well aware that this was an unacceptable and illegal activity’ said Philippa Brakes of WDCS.

Brazil has an otherwise good reputation of protecting its whales and dolphins and the government of Brazil have been working to restrict the gillnet fisheries that entangle dolphins and lead to their suffocation and death. In addition, hunting and killing whales and dolphins in Brazil is strictly forbidden and punishable by up to 18 months in prison. Officials are investigating the crime and attempting to identify the fishermen involved.

Click here to find out more about the tucuxi and WDCS’s ongoing research.

For more on this story, use the following links:

http://video.globo.com/Videos/Player/Noticias/0,,GIM702336-7823-FLAGRANTE+DE+MATANCA+DE+GOLFINHOS+NO+NORTE+DO+BRASIL,00.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/07/17/brazil.dolphins.ap/index.html

Source: Video.globo.com/CNN/WDCS