820kg of dolphin meat seized from Taiwan fisherman's fridge

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2013-09-20

Huang was found in possession of bottlenose and Risso's dolphin meat,
as well as other prohibited species including shark and seal. (Photo/
ROC Coast Guard)

Some 820 kilograms of dolphin meat was seized by Taiwan's coast guard at the home of a fisherman named Huang in Yunlin county on the country's western coast on Sept. 17, reports our sister paper China Times.

The sale of dolphin meat is illegal and can be punished with a fine of between US$10,000-$50,000 under Taiwanese law.

Huang told authorities that he and his wife began to sell dolphin to local restaurants two years ago lured by the money to be made from strong demand for dolphin sausage around the time of the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Huang had been under surveillance by the authorities for four months and the haul of 820 kilograms consisted of both bottlenose and Risso's dolphin.

The authorities also found the meat of other protected marine species including shark and seal in Huang's refrigerator. Huang said he bought the dolphin meat from a supplier in northern Taiwan at a price of US$5 per catty (600g) and resold it for US$8 per catty.

On this occasion Huang had bought a total of 1,000 kilograms of dolphin meat in total and had shifted 180 kg in just two days.