Are dolphins & porpoises hunted?

Credit: Dolphin Ecology Project – Under Authority of NOAA Fisheries Permit #911-1722-00. Even though they live in the ocean all of the time, dolphins are mammals, not fish. Also, dolphins are different than "dolphinfish," which are also known as mahi-mahi. Like every mammal, dolphins are warm blooded. read more

The dolphins comprise the extant families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the new world river dolphins), and Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin). read more

Dolphins are highly intelligent marine mammals and are part of the family of toothed whales that includes orcas and pilot whales. They are found worldwide, mostly in shallow seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating fish and squid. read more

Dolphins belong to a group of mammals called cetaceans. Cetaceans include all whales and dolphins. Some cetaceans, like the blue whale, are baleen whales and have horny plates hanging from their upper jaw that are used to strain food from the ocean. read more