An international group of animal rights campaigners has sounded the alarm over Kerzner International’s plan to import 40 dolphins from the Solomon Islands for its dolphin attraction facility, which is part of the Atlantis Phase III development.
But Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries V. Alfred Gray said Monday that the government has absolutely no concerns over the import, although the World Society For the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has launched a campaign against what Kerzner is doing.
“We are not too concerned about these animal rights activists because if you listen to then, quite frankly, you would not catch a fish to eat,” the minister said, “or you would not cut down a tree to build a house.”
Minister Gray informed that Director of Fisheries Michael Brennen and a team actually traveled to the Solomon Islands facility to ensure that it was up to international standards.
But on Monday, Mr. Brennen said he had no comment on the matter.
According to an international press report, the 40 dolphins will be flown to The Bahamas this week, via Fiji, Tahiti and Mexico.
WSPA believes the exportation goes against an international treaty – known as the CITES treaty.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments, which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival
“Even when [the dolphins] arrive in The Bahamas, no matter how great care the facilities said they are going to give to these dolphins there is just no way to provide for their welfare in captivity,” said Susan Sherwin, campaign manager at WSPA’s Massachusetts office.
“Regardless of the technology or intent, these dolphins were taken from the wild and they belong in the wild. The other great cause for concern for us and should be cause for concern for The Bahamas government is the fact that this transport is illegal under the CITES treaty to which The Bahamas is a signatory.”
Ms. Sherwin said there should be no reason why the government should even be considering allowing the importation of these dolphins.
WSPA officials also claim that a law in the Solomon Islands actually bans the export of any dolphins.
“If these dolphins are received by your country, it would be in complete contravention of that law,” she claimed.
But Minister Gray indicated that Ms. Sherwin was being inaccurate in her statements.
“The CITES [treaty] has not said that it is illegal for The Bahamas to import dolphins,” he said. “Quite frankly, dolphins are used all over the world, including The United States, including most of the islands in the Caribbean, including most of the islands in the South Americas for purposes related to that which Kerzner International will use the dolphins, for commercial purposes.”
Minister Gray said The Bahamas has to look out for its own interest.
“The Bahamas has sovereignty. The Government of The Bahamas would not do anything to endanger the country by way of international relations,” he assured.
“We cannot listen to every pundit on what we can and cannot do and I can assure you that all of the stakeholders in The Bahamas have been consulted. There would always be some people who you cannot ever get approval from.”
But Ms. Sherwin said The Bahamas could face a huge international outcry over the import and could receive a lot of negative international publicity that could ultimately hurt the tourism industry.
“The Bahamas is now extremely and dangerously close to putting itself in [this] position,” she warned.
“The media [are] already aware that the dolphins may be on the way to your country and if they are allowed to arrive, again, it would be illegal under CITES and the media will be made aware of that fact and it certainly would not look good for the country’s tourism prospects.”
Local animal welfare and environmental groups, including The Bahamas Humane Society, are also raising concerns.
Kevin Degenhard of the Human Society said the organization remains opposed to dolphins being used for entertainment.
“We are also opposed to any dolphins being taken from the wild,” he indicated in an e-mail to reporters on Monday. “When asked if any of [Kerzner] International’s dolphins will originate from the wild this question remains unanswered.”
On Monday evening, Kerzner International’s Chief Marine Officer Frank Muru issued a brief statement on the matter, saying, “The facts that are being circulated are grossly inaccurate. Our plans for a dolphin facility are still in the planning stages. Therefore it is premature to address any specifics.”
Just before breaking for the summer recess, parliament passed a bill that cleared the way for the government to approve more facilities of this type to add to the three presently in operation in the country.
Minister Gray said during the debate in the House of Assembly, “It is no longer a question of whether we wish to have these facilities, but how we will regulate and manage them over the years. The need for legislation to regulate and monitor these facilities was recognized a long time ago.”
The bill prohibits the capture of marine mammals from Bahamian waters.
But during that same debate, former prime minister Hubert Ingraham said, “I understand that such importation could have a negative impact upon the resident population of dolphins, particularly if any of these dolphins be released intentionally or otherwise in The Bahamas.”
The new law prohibits the holding, exporting etc. of marine mammals without a license for permit from the minister and provides for the appointment of marine mammal inspectors and their immunity from prosecution for acts in pursuance of their responsibilities under the Act.
By: Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
