Jim Wickens on Dolphin Slaughter in Peru

Peru's ocean environment is one of the great marine jewels of the planet, a fertile feeding ground for some of the ocean's most charismatic predators. But far off the coast a brutal practice takes place: the slaughter of thousands of dolphins for use as bait in lucrative long-line shark fisheries.

The practice is acknowledged within the fishing community, but has never before been filmed. In this project, Jim Wickens set out to film the dolphin hunt story: bringing together expert testimonies and, ultimately, undercover filming of the slaughter itself far out at sea. The project exposes not just the slaughter itself, but asks why this practice has arisen and why it is that sharks are suddenly being targeted.