After a ten year ban, Japan is set to issue a permit to capture orcas again under the pretext of scientific research and education.

The last orcas captured in Japanese waters were “the Taiji five” in 1997, when they were shipped to captive tanks. “Ku”, the only surviving orca from that hunt is currently held at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. The average life span of Japanese orcas in captivity is 6.7 years. The longest is 21.9 years. In the wild, orcas live their lifespan averages 30 to 50 years for males and females, respectively.

Japan insists that with the “Taiji five”, they studied and prepared for artificial breeding for as long as 10 years, though two of them died in only four months after the capture, and that it is time to step up to the second stage, that is, to try breeding. The Marine Connection is concerned if these captures take place, as the population of orcas in Japanese waters have not been exactly estimated and the damage these captures could to Japan's orca population.

The Marine Connection recently added our support to stop these captures via an open letter to Mr. Shuji Yamada, Director of Fisheries in Japan - click here to read the letter in full which is supported by over 140 organisations worldwide.