Solomons to host talks on dolphin trade

ninenews 18 Mar 09;

The Solomon Islands government will host a forum to discuss the controversial issue of their ongoing international dolphin trade.

The Solomons Ministry for Environment, Conservation and Meteorology along with stakeholders and NGOs will meet on Thursday for talks on the capture and sale of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.

"The forum is part of its (Solomons government) continuing effort to ensure the export of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is sustainable and conducted in a transparent fashion," the Solomons government said in a statement.

"There has been so much media publicity on this issue by different interest groups in recent years.

"The forum offers the opportunity to present information about the efforts of the Ministry to everyone," a spokesman said.

The Solomons began selling bottlenose dolphins in 2003 and ever since there has been widespread opposition to the legality and sustainability of the trade, along with concerns for the captured animals' welfare.

Earlier this year, a luxurious Singapore resort came under fire for importing Solomons dolphins.

In 2007, 28 dolphins from the Solomons were sent to a resort in Dubai amid protests from environment groups.

The dolphin shipment was criticised by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

The two countries also protested a shipment of 28 Solomons dolphins to Mexico in 2004.

Forum on dolphin export, Thursday
Solomon Star 18 Mar 09;

A FORUM to debate the export of dolphins will be held in Honiara this Thursday at the Quality Inn.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation & Meteorology is organising it.

This came in light of considerable opposition from certain international organisations and various sectors of the society to this trade.

The ministry said the opposition can be attributed to concerns about the legality and sustainability of the trade, as well as the viability of the dolphin population and their welfare.

“The ministry has considered these divergent interests and perspectives and has taken necessary steps to ensure the dolphin population is exploited and managed in a more sustainable manner,” it said.

The ministry said tomorrow’s forum is to ensure export of the dolphins is conducted in a transparent fashion.

“There has been so much media publicity done on this issue by different interest groups in recent years and the forum offers us the opportunity to come together and present this information while everyone is present.”

The forum starts at 9am

Public Forum On Dolphin Trade
scoop.co.nz Solomon Islands Government press release 18 Mar 09
Government To Organize Public Forum On Dolphin Trade

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Meteorology is organizing a forum to discuss the capture of indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin and its trade from Solomon Islands.

A forum to be held on Thursday this week will bring together representatives from government agencies, non-government organizations and others to openly share their views and concerns on the capture of live bottle-nose dolphin and export from Solomon Islands.

A statement from the Ministry said the forum is part of its continuing effort to ensure the export of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin is sustainable and conducted in a transparent fashion.

It said there has been so much media publicity on this issue by different interest groups in recent years and the forum offers the opportunity to present information about the efforts of the Ministry to everyone.

The Ministry said since international trade in the indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin began in 2003, there has been opposition to the legality and sustainability of the trade and the welfare of the captured animals.

The Ministry has taken into account all the different interests and perspectives of the issue and has taken steps to ensure the country's wild, local indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin is exploited and managed in a more sustainable manner.

Related articles and links

• Resorts World Sentosa: at what price?
  
• Singapore SPCA speaks out against wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
  
• Philippines asked to return dolphins to the Solomon Islands Solomon Star 16 Jan 09;
• Dolphins at the Sentosa Integrated Resort: Senator cites Mexico's sad experience with dolphins Grace Chua, Straits Times 12 Jan 09;
  
• Facebook Group: Boycott Sentosa Marine Life Park
• SUFFERING, NOT SMILING: The Truth About Captive Dolphins on the Acres website.
• Singapore warned on dolphin imports for Resorts World Sentosa The Solomon Star 31 Dec 08;
  
• Animal activists decry need to import wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa Grace Chua, Straits Times 27 Dec 08;
• Another 11 Solomon dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
• What will the Solomon dolphins go through in the Philippines? Some background of the facilities that will train them.
• Confirmation that the 7 dolphins are going to Resorts World Sentosa and what the dolphins cost
  
• First hints that the 7 dolphins were going to Resorts World Sentosa.
  
• Universal Studios distances itself from dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa.
  
• More about dolphins in general: their status, threats and other issues, on the wildsingapore news blog.