Solomon Islands dolphin exporter confirms order from Germany

Radio New Zealand International 16 Feb 11;

A Solomon Islands exporter of live dolphins has confirmed that he plans to fill an order from Germany, along with orders from other European countries and Dubai.

Robert Satu, the director of the Marine Mammal Educational Centre, can’t confirm the exact number of dolphins each country’s ordered but hopes to begin hunting at the end of June.

Mr Satu says the other European countries don’t want their identity publicised.

“After Germany then I’ll go back to Dubai and get the other contract from Dubai, which is, they have to complete their tourism place again before I’ll send them but they already out their order in.”

Robert Satu says he released dolphins on Independence Day last year at the request of the animal activists Earth Island Institute on the basis that they would pay him.

He says he’s resuming dolphin exports because he hasn’t received the payment.

Solomon Islands dolphin exporter blames animal activists for resumption of trade
Radio New Zealand International 16 Feb 11;

A Solomon Islands exporter of live dolphins says he’s resuming the trade because he hasn’t been paid by an animal activist group.

Robert Satu, the director of the Marine Mammal Educational Centre, says he plans to start hunting dolphins at the end of June to fill orders from Europe and the Middle East.

He says he made an agreement with Earth Island Institute to release dolphins last July on Independence Day on the basis that he’d be paid.

But Mr Satu says that payment never arrived.

“They told me that after the release then they’re going to pay and they told me not to hunt dolphin more for, to try and wait for another four years. So if I stop hunting dolphins or selling them then what sort of business did they provided for me?”

Robert Satu says people from overseas should stop poking their nose into Solomon Islanders’ business.