Should dolphin hunting be banned?

The movie the cove shows a modern day atrocity of brutal butchering of highly
intelligent creatures. Some say the dolphins are killed for meat; meat tainted with
high levels of mercury which is perilous to the human body. Others say the hunt is a
form of pest control insisting that dolphins are competition for the fishing industry.
Some say its a cultural act. Whatever the reason, there is simply no excuse for such
extreme cruelty. I dont have a clear answer which animals are okay and which
animals should be banned. In a perfect world wed all be vegan but seeing that we
are not, at make humane treatment for the dolphins.
1 Should the killings of dolphines be banned?
2 Should the killings of dolphins be regulated in terms of numbers and means
3 How does culture fit in these decisions? Should diversity of cultural world views
be a consideration?