"TAIJI, Japan – An unprecedented meeting between conservationists and leaders of the dolphin-hunting village depicted in the Oscar-winning film 'The Cove' ended in bitter disagreement Tuesday.

The carefully organized meeting in Taiji was jolted beforehand when the film's star, Ric O'Barry, said he would boycott because severe restrictions had been imposed on the media covering the talks.

Taiji's hunt each year draws a range of protesters who videotape the slaughter and occasionally scuffle with local fishermen. This season — the first since the Oscar was awarded — the attention has been particularly intense, and the usually unresponsive town leaders agreed to a discussion at the town's community center.

But the two-hour meeting was acrimonious from the start."

Jay Alabaster reports for the Associated Press November 2, 2010. [2]