Cove Guardians - Sea Shepherd

Join the Cove Guardians and Help Stop the Senseless Slaughter of Dolphins in Taiji, Japan!

The slaughter of 20,000 dolphins, porpoises, and small whales occurs in Japan each year. Starting on September 1st and usually continuing through March of the next year, fishermen herd whole families of small cetaceans into a shallow bays and mercilessly stab and drown them to death.

This annual slaughter of dolphins was virtually unknown until 2003 when Sea Shepherd globally released covertly-obtained film and photographs of the now infamous bloody “Cove” in a village called Taiji. Starting in 2010 and continuing to this day, Sea Shepherd has a ongoing presence of volunteers standing watch on site at the Cove. They are The Cove Guardians.

With your help, we will continue to pressure Japan to end this cruel and destructive slaughter of dolphins. Because we are passionate, dedicated, and committed it may take time, but determination will win the day eventually for the dolphins at Taiji. We invite you to explore this site and support our efforts!

About the Campaign:

• Taiji's Cetacean Kill
• Facts about the Drive Hunt
• Toxic Bureaucracy
• History of SSCS in Taiji
• Info About Targeted Cetaceans
• What You Can Do

Additional Information:

• Cove Guardian Reports
• Latest News
• SSCS in the News
• Photo Gallery
• Video

Spotlight on Cove Guardian Troy Coyle

February 2012 - Taiji, Japan - We shine the spotlight on Troy Coyle,
a volunteer Cove Guardian from NSW, Australia.

Latest News From the Campaign

For field reports directly from our Cove Guardians in Taiji, Japan, visit our
Cove Guardian Reports page.

Cove Guardian Radios Banned by Police in Taiji - The Police in Taiji keep changing the rules in their ongoing effort to protect the slaughter of dolphins at the infamous Japanese killing Cove. With Erwin in jail for a third month awaiting a verdict on the charge of allegedly “pushing” a dolphin killer, the police decided to detain several other Cove Guardians today and they were informed that it is illegal to use their two-way radios in Japan. ...read more

Trial Update on Dutch Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen - The trial of Erwin Vermeulen continued February 1, 2012 in Wakayama, Japan, marking his 48th day of imprisonment. The defense presented their case before the judge. Erwin was led into the courtroom shackled by a rope around his waist, attached to a leash. ...read more

Trial Begins For Dutch Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen in Taiji, Japan - January 26 marked the start of court proceedings for Dutch Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen, who has been detained for more than 40 days on false charges of assault. Erwin was in Taiji documenting the town’s annual dolphin massacre when he was falsely accused of pushing one of the dolphin resort employees. ...read more

Bid to Free Erwin - Artist and Sea Shepherd Netherlands Director, Geert Vons, is offering two of his paintings to help raise funds for Sea Shepherd volunteer Erwin Vermeulen’s legal expenses. Geert is responsible for much of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s artwork and logos. ...read more