A Flesh-Torn Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin on a Fishing Line... "Suffering from Abandoned Fishing Gear Discarded by People"

A southern bottlenose dolphin with flesh torn off due to a fishing line caught on its fin. Photo by Hotpink Dolphins

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] In Jeju, a southern bottlenose dolphin, a marine protected species, was spotted swimming with a fishing line caught on its fin.

On the 28th, the marine environmental organization Hotpink Dolphins announced that a southern bottlenose dolphin was captured swimming with a fishing line caught on its dorsal fin in the waters off Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju, that morning.

The dolphin was swimming with about 50 other dolphins of the same species, and it was confirmed that the fishing line had pierced into the flesh of the fin.

Hotpink Dolphins stated, "The more the dolphin struggles to remove the fishing line caught on its dorsal fin, the more the net tightens around the flesh. Eventually, it may have to cut off the dorsal fin," adding, "The individual with the fishing line caught on its dorsal fin is now at a critical point between life and death. Abandoned fishing gear discarded by humans is directly threatening the life of the marine protected species, the Jeju southern bottlenose dolphin."

Southern bottlenose dolphins with fins damaged by abandoned fishing gear and fishing lines have also been found in February and August of this year.

The organization explained, "All previously found individuals had fishing lines and sinkers caught on their tail fins. Currently, including the individual found today, there are as many as four dolphins with fins damaged or in the process of being damaged due to marine debris," adding, "Considering the total population of southern bottlenose dolphins is about 130, approximately 3% of the entire population has sustained injuries."

They further urged, "Cases of abandoned fishing tools and discarded fishing gear threatening marine animals continue to be discovered," and called on the government to designate the Daejeong-eup and Gujwa-eup areas of Jeju, the main habitat of the southern bottlenose dolphin, as dolphin protection zones.