Japanese mayor defends dolphin hunts in Taiji village

The mayor of a Japanese seaside village made famous in an Oscar-winning documentary for its dolphin hunt has said he is determined to continue the ancient local tradition.

The village of Taiji, which features in the documentary "The Cove," has held an annual dolphin hunt for centuries.

The film portrays the dolphin hunts as a sinister secret, cruel and dangerous because the animals have high mercury levels.

As Roland Buerk now reports, Taiji's Mayor says fishermen have the right to start their hunts when the season opens again soon.