TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following a tipoff from Canada, investigators in Pingtung found a ship captain who ordered his crew to kill dolphins to use as bait for sharks.

The case began when Canadian authorities informed Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture about the illegal slaughter of dolphins, per CNA. Acting on the information, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office discovered that the captain of a long-range fishing trawler had instructed his crew to kill the protected animals.

The incident occurred in the Northwest Pacific in June 2024. After killing the dolphins, the crew used bloodied meat as bait to catch sharks.

The captain, surnamed Wu (吳), was questioned and released on bail of NT$100,000 (US$3,000). The court also barred him from leaving the country or sailing out to sea. On Wednesday, investigators questioned the ship’s seven foreign crew members and prohibited them from leaving Taiwan, changing their residence, or returning to sea.

Prosecutors said this was not the first time this year that international animal protection groups had reported Taiwanese fishers catching and killing protected species. They emphasized that the practice damages Taiwan’s international image and marine environment, and vowed to enforce the law and combat illegal fishing practices.