At a two-day general meeting that started Thursday, several aquariums expressed dissatisfaction with the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums' recent decision to ban them from acquiring dolphins caught in drive hunts off Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, according to the group's chairman, Kazutoshi Arai.

JAZA issued the ban on May 20 after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums threatened to expel the Japanese body over the practice.

At its annual meeting in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, representatives of several JAZA member facilities that keep dolphins criticized the move, with one saying the drive hunts are "Japan's unique culture and fair fishery activity. There are no grounds whatsoever for blame."