More misery as wild dolphin captures continue in Solomon Islands’ waters

PRESS RELEASE
London, UK
July 2, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


More misery as wild dolphin captures continue in Solomon Islands’ waters

A further 12 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins have recently been captured and are waiting in sea pens to be exported to marine parks.

This comes nine months after the controversial exports of 28 wild caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands to Palm Atlantis in Dubai last year, and by further captures of dolphins by local fishermen who wanted to start a “dolphin business”.

As a charity working for the protection and welfare of dolphins worldwide, the Marine Connection has huge concerns for not only the welfare of the captured animals but, also, any further captures and exports as the number of dolphins around the Solomon Islands is unknown and any further taking of animals could have a devastating effect on local populations if the government allows captures to escalate.

Once again, these captures were authorised despite no adequate peer reviewed scientific surveys being undertaken to assess that the removal of the animals from the wild will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in these waters. This is a basic requirement of international legislation as outlined by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), whose aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Under CITES law, no captures should be allowed until a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) has been issued by the exporting country. The Solomon Islands have issued this declaration due to methodological flaws of the study the charity is challenging the effectiveness of this NDF.

Unfortunately the cruel market for wild dolphins is fuelled by the popularity of marine parks and tour operators that promote them. Marine Connection allege that holiday giants Thomson (a branch of tour operator TUI) are promoting excursions to the Palm Atlantis resort in Dubai, the facility that purchased and imported the dolphins from the Solomons last year. Ironically, TUI are also partners of 2007 “Year of the Dolphin” an initiative launched by the United Nations which aims to highlight the many dangers dolphins face in the wild and has been extended into 2008.

The charity has concerns over the inclusion of TUI, as one of the major threats to wild dolphins today is their direct capture and trade to supply marine parks. “Captures are most likely not sustainable and may have significant conservation implications” – these facts were acknowledged by all “Year of the Dolphin” partners and TUI should prove its commitment by pledging to cease sales of this type of excursion.

A spokesperson for the Marine Connection, said: “Tour operators such as Thomson and Virgin who promote and profit from captive dolphin facilities have a huge responsibility today - environmentally, socially and ethically. Excursions to captive dolphin facilities, artificial enclosures which confine these socially complex and predatory animals, are an inherent contradiction to this tremendous responsibility. As long as tour operators promote these facilities and people continue to visit them, wild captures will continue.”

Further information can be found at www.marineconnection.org

ENDS

For media-related inquiries, or images contact:
Janja Novak, Campaigns Development Officer, Marine Connection
Tel 00 44 (0) 20 7602 1574 email: janja@marineconnection.org

Notes for Editors
The Marine Connection is a London-based charity, working both nationally and internationally for the welfare, protection and conservation of dolphins, whales and porpoises - from the smallest to the largest species, they all need protecting. One way the charity achieves this is through a mix of campaigning, education and research. The Marine Connection has achieved, or contributed to, many important victories for dolphins and whales. However, whilst an actively campaigning organisation, education and research also play a vital part of the charity’s conservation work. One of the charity's main objectives is to ensure everyone understands the importance of protecting these marine mammals and their natural habitat.


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Resort of Okinawa brings death to its sparkling bays

Drive hunts return to Okinawa

Okinawa is the southernmost prefecture of Japan. It occupies the southern part of the Nansei (Southwest) chain of islands which stretches over 1,200 km from the southern tip of Kyushu to within 100 km of Taiwan. Okinawa prefecture consists of around 160 of these islands, 46 inhabited.

The prefecture takes its name from the largest and most populous of the three groups of islands that form it, the other two being the Miyako and Yaeyama group. The Okinawa group is centered on the largest island in the prefecture, Okinawa Island; the Miyako group on Miyako Island; and the Yaeyama group on Ishigaki Island.

But don’t be misguided by the tourist guide image. The city has recently re-commenced dolphin hunting. Nago hunted dolphins 20 years ago but the barbaric practice was stopped due to opposition by conservation groups and bad publicity the city received for allowing these hunts.

However, the practice is still alive, as a small percentage of fishermen still retain licences to kill dolphins. A few days ago, around 100 dolphins appeared off Nago Bay which resulted in six boats setting out to sea and the fishermen driving the dolphins into the bay, where they were slaughtered.

This is a sad reflection on Japan’s attitude towards the continued and rising international condemnation of drive hunts in the country. Despite the fact that the number of dolphins killed in this instance was lower than the hunts conducted in Taiji where the number of dolphins slaughtered reaches in excess of 20,000, the practice is equally inhumane and unnecessary.

Yet the world stands by and does nothing. One marine conservation charity has spoken out. The Marine Connection (www.marineconnection.org) condemns this expansion of drive hunts in Japan and is calling on the authorities at Nago abolish the hunt with immediate effect.

But will the world listen? Just don’t go there on your holidays!



Further information can be found at
www.marineconnection.org


For media-related inquiries, contact The Marine Connection: Janja Novak
Campaigns Development Officer
Marine Connection
00 44 (0) 20 7602 1574
Email: janja@marineconnection.org


The Marine Connection is a London-based charity, working both nationally and internationally for the welfare, protection and conservation of dolphins, whales and porpoises - from the smallest to the largest species, they all need protecting. One way the charity achieves this is through a mix of campaigning, education and research. The Marine Connection has achieved – or contributed to – many important victories for dolphins and whales, however whilst an actively campaigning organisation, education and research also play a vital part of the charity’s conservation work. One of the charity's main objectives is to ensure everyone understands the importance of protecting these marine mammals and their natural habitat.