The Caribbean is revered the world over as an area with exceptional and natural tropical beauty. The white, sandy beaches, the palm trees, a wealth of wild marine life; this is how the travel companies sell it and that is exactly how we imagine it. However, there is one major inconsistency, one stark contradiction to the idyllic images of this area presented to us on a daily basis; the Caribbean dolphinarium industry.

The number of dolphinariums has increased in recent times, largely perpetuated by the thriving Caribbean cruise industry which indiscriminately sells excursions to these facilities even before people board the ship. Whether held in a sea pen or a concrete tank, captive dolphins' abilities are restricted. Just because we cannot see the barriers does not mean they do not exist. When taken into captivity dolphins' abilities, which have evolved and adapted over numerous centuries, are rendered absolutely useless and the animals become bored.

Captive bred dolphins cannot hope to sustain the dolphinariums around the world. Many wild dolphins are still caught for captivity, including from the Caribbean Sea. Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea, has now become one of the world's leaders for capturing and selling dolphins to aquarium's worldwide, including to the Caribbean industry, capturing and selling at least 140 dolphins in the last 10 years.

Slowly countries are becoming wise to the truth behind captive dolphin facilities and that tourists today enjoy visiting areas with sustainable and ethical roots - which the Caribbean is perfectly placed to offer. However, increasingly, up to 5000 cruise ship travellers daily may land on an individual Island in the Caribbean. Most cruise lines, with the exception of forward-thinking Regent Seven Seas, will offer captive dolphin swim excursions where possible, costing tourists hundreds of dollars - money which rarely filters through to the economy of that particular island.

For more specific details about the captive dolphin situation within the Caribbean please click below:

Aruba

Cayman Islands

Dominican Republic

Jamaica

St. Maarten

With the development of the Caribbean captive dolphin industry, came a barrage of anti-captive dolphin movements. A dolphinarium in Antigua was successfully shut down after 3 years of operation and lobbying from animal welfare charities. Subsequent planning applications from this dolphinarium have also been turned down by the Antiguan Development Control Authority. In addition, in 2005, Regent Seven Seas Cruises took the impressive step of purposefully not promoting dolphinariums on their cruises.

The Marine Connection supported a booth at the 2006 Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association conference offering a perfect opportunity to discuss the issues surrounding dolphinariums in the Caribbean with the largest supplier of their clients - the cruise industry. Click below to read more.

Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association conference 2006

Map - © Graphicmaps.com
Image - © Dolphin Project