The Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums started its two-day annual general meeting on Thursday, where its member bodies were expected to hear more about the association's recent decision to ban the acquisition of dolphins from a controversial drive hunt.

The heads of about 120 zoos and aquariums were expected to attend the meeting in Hyogo Prefecture, with the association's secretariat due to report to them about its operations and budget plans. The meeting is not open to the public.

On May 20, the association decided to ban its members from obtaining live dolphins caught off the town of Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture. The move came after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums condemned the hunt as cruel and said it would expel JAZA if the use of Taiji dolphins continued.