Dra. Romina Picolotti
Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable
Jefatura de Gabinete de Ministros
San Martín 451
(C1004AAI)
Buenos Aires
Argentina

21 July 2006

Dear Dra. Romina Picolotti,

Re: Import of nine bottlenose dolphins to Mar del Plata Aquarium, Argentina

Recently, the Marine Connection has been alerted to the proposed import of nine bottlenose dolphins from Cuba to the Mar del Plata Aquarium in Argentina. As a charity working worldwide for the conservation and protection of dolphins and whales, we were very concerned to hear about this impending import and felt compelled to contact you.

Cuba has a poor reputation internationally with regards to the capture and export of many wild dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins are listed under Annex II of the SPAW (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) Protocol, to which Cuba is a signatory, and Article 11 of this prohibits the capture of this species from the wild. It is clear, however, that this legislation is not being adhered to.

There is a distinct lack of research undertaken into the wild populations of bottlenose dolphins around Cuba as discussed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) Scientific Committee in 2006. The IWC Scientific Committee expressed concern over the "complete lack of abundance data against which to measure the sustainability of live capture removals". Export permits required for Appendix II animals (which includes bottlenose dolphins) by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), of which Cuba is a member, will only be granted provided the Scientific Authority of the export country can supply information explaining how "such export will not be detrimental to the survival of that species" (CITES Convention Text - Article VI 2(a)). It is the Marine Connection's belief that Cuba is not in a position to provide this mandatory non-detriment findings information.

Studies undertaken elsewhere in the Caribbean region indicate that bottlenose dolphin populations are smaller in number than in other areas of the world. Whilst dolphins do occasionally congregate in large pods, the majority of the time they are in small groups of 3-8 animals, therefore these wild captures pose an extreme threat to the wild populations of bottlenose dolphins in the Caribbean. Consequently any exports of wild dolphins caught in Cuba will contravene CITES legislation as well as potentially endangering the lives and dynamics of the wild populations and their future.

It has been proven that wild dolphin populations cannot withstand more than a 5% loss per year and natural losses through death alone can reach this height, therefore removing further dolphins would greatly compromise the structure of this population and endanger its' survival for the future. A fundamental point to note is that during capture operations it is not only captured animals which must be taken into consideration, but also any animals not removed which may die afterwards in the wild as a result of stress and injury, or dependent calves whose mothers are captured that will die due to lack of food source and protection.

Dolphin and whale watching in the wild is one of the fastest growing tourist attractions in the world. Tourists are becoming much more reactive to poor environmental records and increasingly prefer to travel to areas which have environmentally friendly, sustainable and ethical roots. These same tourists are also becoming far more aware of the detrimental effects of keeping cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins in captivity and would rather choose to view these animals in the wild. If Argentina was to import wild caught dolphins from Cuba there would be international condemnation which would impact on the tourism industry and ultimately the Argentinean economy. Argentina is in an excellent position to develop its ethical whale and dolphin watching industry and accordingly steer tourism towards the increasingly popular eco-tourism activities. It has been proposed that the potential earning from a regional dolphin and whale watching industry of is approximately US$24 million annually.

I therefore respectfully urge the Argentinean Government not to authorise the import of these animals from Cuba for the sake of the wild dolphin populations, the reputation of Argentina and the lucrative potential for the Argentinean development of ethical wild dolphin watching.

Thank you for taking the time to read my correspondence, please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information.

Yours sincerely,

Andrina Murrell
Captivity Officer

Copied in :

Ing. Felipe Solá
Gobernador Province of Buenos Aires
Jefatura de Gabinete de la Pcia. de Buenos Aires
Calle 6 /51 y 53 piso 1
La Plata (1900)
Prov Buenos Aires
Argentina