| Further dolphin captures in Solomon Islands
Three middle-sized dolphins were caught and brought outside Saru Beach, Baha’i Centre, yesterday afternoon by some fishermen.
One of the fishermen Alick Kabolo said they caught the dolphins while out fishing. “We rounded them and brought them in,” Mr Kabolo said.
Asked what they would do with the dolphins, Mr Kabolo said they would be keeping them in the sea behind the Ministry of Finance. “We have put up a fence there so we will keep them there and feed them,” an excited Mr Kabolo said. He said the owner of the area had recently obtained a licence to go into dolphin business as well.
However, Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre and Exporters (SIMMECE) director Robert Satu said they were the only ones permitted to export dolphins. “To keep dolphins one must know how to feed them and look after them. There are procedures to follow in doing this,” Mr Satu said.
He asked Mr Kabolo and his group to scan the dolphins and look for any tags, which might have been placed on them.
Meanwhile, Mr Kabolo said his group is happy with their catch. Mr Kabolo is a well-known fisherman and was once a SIMMECE employee.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries was not available for comments yesterday.
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