Two aquariums drop out of JAZA

Two additional aquariums in Japan have dropped out of a domestic zoo association. They say they cannot abide by the association's ban on the receipt of dolphins caught in drive hunts.

The Kaikyokan aquarium in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the Shin Enoshima aquarium in Kanagawa Prefecture say they left the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums at the end of March.

The Taiji Whale Museum in Wakayama Prefecture and another aquarium in Shizuoka Prefecture were the first to drop out of JAZA in 2015.

Their decisions came after JAZA announced it would expel aquariums that acquire dolphins caught by the controversial hunting method used in Taiji town.

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums suspended the membership of the Japanese association in April, 2015 because the hunting method violates its ethical code.

JAZA's membership in the world body was restored after it informed its members that they could no longer receive dolphins caught in the hunts.

Officials at the 2 aquariums told NHK that their withdrawal from JAZA hasn't affected their research or exhibitions.

The director of the Kaikyokan aquarium, Toshiaki Ishibashi, says his facility dropped out of JAZA partly because its policy runs counter to his city's aim, which is to promote whaling. He says he is concerned that JAZA's policy could greatly undermine the efforts of Japanese aquariums to breed dolphins.