Ocean World S.A. launched a law suit against Dr Lori Marino of Emory University claiming Dr Marino supported the campaign to block the purchase of 12 dolphins from the Taiji Drive hunts which were due for export to a facility in the Dominican Republic. Ocean World also claim that Dr Marino was interfering with the opening of the new dolphin exhibit planned for the Georgia Aquarium, which Dr Marino denies.

Ocean World claims that they were actually saving the dolphins from slaughter by purchasing them, however it has been documented and proven that these drive hunts would cease to be profitable for the fishermen were they to rely solely on the money they receive from the meat of slaughtered dolphins, it is the high price paid by the trade of live dolphins to marine parks that continues to make this a lucrative practice in Taiji. Meat from one dolphin fetches about 50,000 yen ($500) but dolphins can be sold to aquariums for 10 to 20 times that price, with some being sold for in excess of $150,000.

However claims by the captivity industry for dolphin (or whale) deaths at the hands of campaigners is nothing new. Over the years when an animal has died during a campaign, the purchasers or 'owners' of the dolphins or whales always look to blame campaigners for the unnecessary suffering and deaths caused. We believe this is the case with Dr Marino/Emory University. "These dolphins died because they were captured for trade, not due to the actions of Dr Marino" says Marine Connection director Margaux Dodds. "The captivity industry are responsible for countless deaths of animals in their 'care' and this will continue to be the case until they stop."

Reports state that the suit claims 3 dolphins died in a typhoon due to the delay in the export permit and 'would not have died had the defendants not intervened in Ocean World's business'. Marine Connection however begs to differ, "These dolphins would not have died in captivity had they not been taken from the wild and the high prices commanded for these animals. The cause of death is supply and demand - if marine parks did not purchase these animals they would not have been captured and that, is the real case to answer."

Dr Marino, a lecturer in neuroscience and behavioural biology at Emory stated that research has shown that keeping dolphins in captivity is not good for the animals physically or psychologically and shortens their lives,"Their lifespans are about half what they are in the natural word," she said. We believe that this case is being launched due to the high profile of Dr Marino and the respect for her excellent work in the field, something which is a threat to the dolphin traders and captivity industry.

Dr Marino and others have the right to voice their concern and opinions on captivity and wild captures, a right that those who profit from the trade in dolphins and whales wish to silence.