On Tuesday, conservationists announced a campaign to end dolphin slaughtering in Peru.

BlueVoice, an ocean conservation organization based in Florida, and Mundo Azul, an NGO based in Lima, Peru, united for the campaign. Every year, between 5,000 and 15,000 dolphins are killed, according to calculations on fishing boat practices, and "undercover testimony," according to Blue Voice. These dolphins are used for both human consumption and shark bait.

"It is illegal to kill dolphins under Peruvian law, but there is no enforcement so fishermen kill dolphins with impunity," Stefan Austermuhle, president of Mundo Azul, said at the announcement.

It was Austermuhle who reached out to BlueVoice, which specializes in protecting dolphins and whales, for help in Peru. BlueVoice helped fund Austermuhle's investigation of Peruvian waters. For 24 days, he recorded footage from a fishing boat and spoke with fishermen. Hardy Jones, executive director of BlueVoice, presented Austermuhle with The Dolphin Defender Award on Tuesday in appreciation of his sacrifice.

"We videotaped from the boat and in the water, and what we saw was unimaginably horrific," Austermuhle told BlueVoice. "I just went numb looking at the pitiful dolphin being battered with a club. All I could do was continue recording the event in the hope that making the world aware of this tragedy can somehow bring an end to it."

On Tuesday, BlueVoice and Mundo Azul also announced discovering dolphin meat black markets in various locations. They noted that it was not as extensive as in the past, however.

Citizens are encouraged to report violations like this to Mundo Azul's office. To give people some extra incentive, the coalition is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

"We want the fishermen to know they cannot carry on their dolphin killing and meat sales without exposure," Jones said.

Auhstermuhle's shocking footage will eventually be comprised into a documentary. Jones already has over 70 television documentaries on his resumé.

"It is my hope that our film will have a happy ending in which Peru rededicates itself to the protection of dolphins and its marine resources," Jones said.

Meanwhile, BlueVoice and Mundo Azul are imploring the Peruvian government to step up by enforcing current conservation laws and instituting new laws, particularly against the use of harpoons in boats.

"Harpoons are used solely to kill dolphins and banning them would save the lives of thousands of dolphins," Austermuhle explained.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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