As the annual dolphin-hunting season begins in Japan, it is drawing protests from activists who say the practice is cruel. In the first week of November, Japanese fishers had a clash with protestors from Australia and the us in the port city Taiji.

This year, the locations where dolphins are culled has been moved to secluded coves to hide the activity from television crews and protestors. Dolphin hunts involve herding groups of dolphins into a cove using sonar equipment that creates acoustic barrier. They are trapped using nets and divers are sent in to kill them. "The hunting is traditional in Japan and we can't accept an argument based on emotional causes,' said Hideki Moronuki, whaling section chief, Japanese Fisheries Agency.