Fishermen and divers in Japan have captured at least 250 dolphins this weekend to be killed for their meat or to sell to companies for lifetime captivity, said U.S. environmentalists, according to NBC Montana.

Activists from the environmental group Sea Shepherd streamed footage of the dolphin capture at a cove in Taiji.

The annual hunt was highlighted in the 2009 documentary "The Cove," which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

The documentary was met by hundreds of protesters from right-wing activists when it was screened in Japan, according to AFP.

"Taiji dolphin fishermen are just conducting a legal fishing activity in their traditional way in full accordance with regulations and rules under the supervision of both the national and the prefectural governments," said the Wakayama Prefecture, where Taiji is, regarding the controversial film, according to NBC. "Therefore, we believe there are no reasons to criticize the Taiji dolphin fishery."

Each year, fishermen trap hundreds of dolphins into the secluded cove. Usually they select over a dozen dolphins be sold to aquariums and marine parks, and then kill the rest to sell their meat.

The fishermen have defended their actions by saying it is a cultural tradition.

Sea Shepherd said this weekend that 25 dolphins were taken from their pods to be sold for aquariums, according to AFP. The selection will continue on Jan. 19 as well.

"Those taken captive are forced to watch as the remaining members of their family are brutally killed for human consumption," the environmentalist said in a statement, according to AFP.

The Taiji Fisheries Cooperative Association, which is in charge of the hunt, has yet to comment.

Multiple environmental groups have tried warning those who purchase dolphin meat that it contains "dangerously high levels of mercury" along with other toxins, according to NBC.

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