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Solomon islands dolphins
News update 22.11.07
In response to CITES Secretariat’s comments on captures and trade in live dolphins from the Solomon Islands, the Species Survival Network (SSN) and WWF International issued a statement expressing concerns over Secretariat’s actions. The Marine Connection are members of SSN, an international coalition of organisations and individuals committed to the promotion, enhancement and strict enforcement of CITES.
Click here to read the document
News update 17.10.07
It has been reported that four dolphins have already died in holding pens in Honiara, Solomon Islands. 28 of the remaining animals are now on their way to The Palm/Atlantis resort in Dubai but will have to endure a 30 hour flight, adding to concerns for their welfare.
Solomon islands dolphins headed for UAE
Despite continued attempts to address our concerns with CITES authorities in the Solomon Islands, Dubai and the Secretariat in Geneva, the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins which are currently held in crowded, shallow pools on the island of Gavutu, are to be flown to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this week.
 The Marine Connection is very concerned that these latest captures have been authorised despite no scientific surveys being undertaken to assess the population status of dolphins in the waters around these Islands. Under CITES law no captures should be allowed until a NDF (Non-Detriment Finding) has been issued by the exporting country. The Solomon Islands have apparently issued this declaration however, as no population studies have been undertaken the charity is therefore challenging the effectiveness of this NDF.
Campaigns Development Officer, Janja Novak comments “There are significant disease issues which can adversely affect marine life in the UAE upon the introduction of new or foreign dolphins. Diseases can also spread to humans if they come into contact with dolphins, and scientific studies have shown that bottlenose dolphins in Solomon Islands areas are infected with Brucella spp., bacteria which can cause a serious debilitating disease in humans. We believe this export should not take place and urge CITES to intervene”.
The charity were therefore very disappointed to read CITES response to concerns raised published on their website
At present it is unclear to which facilities in the UAE the dolphins are headed for but with this area rapidly expanding in tourism, several captive dolphin facilities are being planned and developed. Some facilities in Dubai have previously denied any connection with the importation saying their dolphinaria will only use dolphins bred in captivity, however this latest capture of animals from the wild, is yet another indication that breeding rates in captivity are insufficient to meet requirements and resulting in more captures of dolphins from wild populations to supply demand.
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