Where and why are dolphins caught?
In portions of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP), large yellowfin tuna swim together with several species of dolphins. This ecological association of tuna and dolphins is not clearly understood. During “porpoise fishing” (the fishermen’s term), schools of tuna are located by first spotting the dolphins or the seabird flocks which are also associated with the fish. Speedboats are used to chase down the dolphins, herd them into a tight group, and set the net around them. The tuna-dolphin bond is so strong that the tuna stay with the dolphins during this process, and thus tuna and dolphins are captured together in the net. Dolphins are released from the net during the backdown procedure. If all goes well, the dolphins are released alive, but the process requires skill by the captain and crew, proper operation of gear, and conducive wind and sea conditions. As with any complicated procedure at sea, things can go wrong, and when they do, dolphins may be killed. For a more exhaustive
