Declan Murphy <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 28, 10:37?pm, mtfes...@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> > Declan Murphy <declan_mur...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > On Apr 27, 10:29?pm, mtfes...@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> > > > Jean-Marc Desperrier <jmd...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > mtfes...@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> > > > > > Dolphins are pretty much a slam-dunk in the "caring about them" department.
> > > > > > They're cute AND intelligent.
> > > > > Ever heard about how the end result of safe tuna fishing campaigns is
> > > > > less dolphin killed, but globally much more wild-life is, amongst which
> > > > > several really endangered species, whereas dolphins have never been
> > > > > actually endangered by the fishing.
> > > > Yeah, but the objection to the dolphin-killing isn't the scarcity of
> > > > dolphins.
> > > That is really the heart of the matter isn't it. On both the pro and
> > > anti sides, economics & science is taking a backseat to emotions and/
> > > or politics.
> >
> > The science is pretty straight-forward; top ocean predators have WAY
> > to much mercury to eat safely.

> I would argue that methylmercury levels, while not unimportant at all,
> is at least only part of the science.

I dunno; getting large doses of a toxin that won't clear your
system seems a pretty important part of the science.

> Furthermore, if methylmercury
> problems are eventually/reluctantly acknowledged by the bureaucracies-
> that-be in this country,

I believe the mercury levels greatly exceed even the Japanese standards.

> that would not negate the commercial
> arguments for the drive hunt, at least in Taiji. The real money
> doesn't come from actually eating the dolphins - even when re-labelled
> as something else. Its the live trade that underwrites the industry.

Right; but it's the slaughter that people object to most vehemently. Most
people like a good dolphin show.

Mike