Dolphin meat

This was first reported in 1960 and during the following decade small numbers of dolphins and porpoises were caught through bycatch and sold on the markets. In the 1970's, dolphin meat was sold under the name 'Muchame' which is actually, an Italian dish. It is composed of the meat extracted from the dorsal fin of the dolphin and served with avocado, onions and crackers. The demand for this increased in the early 1980's, five species (Dusky dolphin, Burmeisters porpoise, Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin and Pilot whale) were being openly fished. In 1989 the Peruvian population of Dusky dolphins were at risk and although the Peruvian Fisheries in 1990 prohibited the killing of these animals, they failed to put this into practice. (14 years later, dolphins are still being slaughtered for their meat.) In 1993 the trade in dolphin meat had increased to 20,000 annually. As a result of the growing demand for 'Muchame', the rest of the dolphin meat was additionally commercialised under the name 'Chanco Marino' (sea pig). This is the meat from the flanks of the dolphin, dark red with a strong flavour.

In 1994 the Peruvian Fisheries prohibited these deaths once again but failed in the enforcement of the regulation. In 1996 a public campaign was launched against the slaughter of small dolphins and whales in Peru and as a result of this, once again, there was a law declared for the protection of several species of dolphins. Finally with this new law and the public educational campaign, the consumption of dolphin meat dropped dramatically and it was no longer sold in supermarkets. However, recent investigations from Mundo Azul have proven that there is still an ongoing trade of dolphin meat and a black market for it through restaurants and local fish-markets. This trade of dolphin meat along the Peruvian coast is never landed at official ports and rarely killed directly on beaches.Their meat is rarely sold openly on fish markets, most cetaceans are caught and butchered at sea - their heads, tails and organs are all dumped at sea, before arriving under cover at night in the ports. Their carcasses are sometimes found stranded on the beaches near the sites where the catch has taken place or near the landing site. The cetacean meat is landed hidden in boxes or bags and sold many times through dealers, directly to the client or sold on request only.

There have been reports of dolphin being killed from Paracas and from the south of the country which means this problem exists all along the coast. Some dolphin meat is still being sold in Lima. Quite simply, there is not enough protection or enforcement of the law for these small cetaceans. There is also the illegal killing of turtles and sea lions along the Peruvian coastline.

Several illegal meat dealers in different ports along Peru’s coastline have been arrested over the years and even though the number of dolphin deaths has slightly dropped since the earlier days, recent investigations show however, that around 3,000+ dolphins are still being killed each year.