Legal situation

On March 29. 1996 the following species of small cetaceans were officially declared protected by law No. 26585:

Delfín oscuro, Chancho marino
Dusky dolphin
Lagenorhinchus obscurus

Delfín común
Common dolphin
Delphinus delphis
(Delphinus capensis)

Bufeo
Bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus

Bufeo negro, Tucuxi
Tucuxi
Sotalia fluviatilis

Tonino, Marsopa espinosa
Burmeister's porpoise
Phocaena spinipinnis

Delfín rosado, Bufeo colorado
Amazon river dolphin
Inia geoffrensis

The law prohibits the extraction of these species, the processing of its meat and the commercialization.

On 14. of July 1996 the President of Peru declared by Supreme decree No. 002-96-PE the following regulations based on the law:

Article 3 prohibits the consumption of fresh or processed dolphin meat of these species.

Article 4 declares that animals, being caught alive in nets of local or industrial fishery, have to be returned to the sea alive.

Article 5 declares that animals, stranded alive with any chance to survive have to be returned to the ocean.

Article 6 prohibits any harassment, injuring or intentional mutilation of individuals of the previous mentioned species.

Article 16 prohibits the landing of dead animals or their parts with the intention of consumption.

Violations of these regulations can be punished with the suspension of concessions, authorizations, permits or licenses for 180 days and one to three years in jail.

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