25 dolphins bound for China

Solomon Star 3 Sep 11;

ABOUT 25 bottlenose dolphins worth millions of dollars will be exported out of the country destined for China, Tuesday next week.

This was revealed to the Solomon Star yesterday by Earth Island Institute regional director and dolphin activist Lawrence Makili.

Mr Makili said he has received reports that Dr Badley Anita who operates a dolphin business on Mbugana Island, Central Province was planning the export.

It was understood the Ministry of Environment issued an export license to Dr Anita on Thursday this week.

However, Mr Makili said this was done illegally as the Fisheries Ministry has not issued any business license to dolphin operators this year.

Therefore, Mr Makili said the Environment Ministry has issued an illegal license to an illegal business operator.

“Under whose directive was the license issued for the export,” Mr Makili questioned.

“The Fisheries Ministry has never given a dolphin business license to dolphin operators this year but yet the Environment Ministry sees fit to allocate an export license to Dr Anita.”

Mr Makili said the planned export would have a negative impact on the two proposed canneries Don Wong and Frabelle tuna companies that were planning to establish in the country.

In April this year, members of Don Wong held a meeting with the Government about their interest in operating in the country.

And one of the main issues discussed was to address the issue of dolphin trade in the country.

Mr Makili said the planned export could jeopardise efforts of tuna investment in the country.

Meanwhile, Mr Makili challenged the Minister of Environment to step in and revoke the permit.

“I’m calling on the minister to step in and investigate this matter because why does the ministry issue an export licence for dolphins to be exported to benefit only a few people; a decision that could risk a tuna cannery that aims to provide thousands of jobs for Solomon Islanders,” Mr Makili said.

Attempts to talk with officials from both ministries and Dr Anita were unsuccessful when this paper went to press last night.

In 2007, 28 live dolphins were also exported to Dubai; four years after a similar shipment to Mexico sparked an international outcry in 2003.

The Government lifted a four-year ban on the trade of dolphins in 2007 although there was a public outcry from local and international conservation groups against exportation of live dolphins.

By DOUGLAS MARAU

25 dolphins to be exported to mainland China
Solomon Star 7 Sep 11;

THE Government’s green light given for the export of 25 bottlenose dolphins to China is unacceptable and a total misinterpretation of the legal processes of the issuance of license to the exporter.

The meeting between officials from the Ministry of Environment and Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to allow the export to proceed shows the inability of the current Government to sense wrong things and right things.

This had proved beyond reasonable doubts that the pressure is coming from above. The officers from the said Ministries are not stupid to issue an Export Permit when Dr. Anita has no business license since the beginning of this year.

It indicates clearly the involvement of politicians who only care for the interest of cronies not our country as a whole cannot be ruled out.

The current Government’s statement using the Cabinet decision passed by the previous Hon. Derrick Sikua Government is a handsome excuse use to deter any accusation on them.

Why use lame excuses and play crisscross puzzles to deter public scrutiny? The current Government had decided and concluded decisions that only benefits cronies and colleagues. When will the current National Government come up with a Cabinet decision that reflects the nation’s interest?

The Live Dolphin Export will directly have a negative impact on the development of the tuna industry of this nation simply because an industry that benefits a few was given favor and lives above the laws and regulations of the Fisheries Act.

During Dong Won Fishing Company’s high level visit to the country early this year, the company was very concerned with the issue of the Dolphin Trade.

It was also raised in their discussions that the Dolphin Trade has to end in order for the Tuna products to be acceptable in the European Market.

Frabelle Tuna Fishing Company also shared the same sentiments.

However, the current Government’s style of double standards over these various issues is a concern.

The Minister for Environment and Conservation would have performed better.

The expectations of the country for his best performance since appointed as the Minister for Environment sunk deeper into the skins and sprung out as sweats.

The 50-100 quotas make no sense when the survey is yet to be complete.

The determination to allow the export has no sense at all. How can one determine a quota when you have no scientific data?

How did the Minister for Environment and Conservation who is also the acting Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources view any justification to issue an export permit, when the applicant holds no valid Business License since the beginning of the year?

Here we go again leave it to the academics we will be fine.

In reference to the CITES Appendices the individual rights were does not allow one to do whatever he/she wants to do.

The nature of the species in particular must be considered, its population in the wild must be known scientifically and many more as these are criteria to proof that the specific animal that we are dealing with is supported scientifically that the particular animal can be considered exploiting.

To the current National Government, if the export is going to go on it will get Dong Won Tuna Fishing Company and Frabelle Tuna Fishing Company to reconsider their plans to invest in this country.

And this is a fact.

The country will lose two Multi-International Tuna Fishing Companies that are waiting next door to invest.

The Solomon Islands as a country exist only to lose our reputation at International community by the actions of our corrupt leaders, who always play the scratch my back and I scratch your back game for their own interest.

I am now considering stepping up to the options of taking action on the current Tuna Operators in the country as a step to show the National Government that I am serious with this campaign to end the Dolphin Trade.

And if I’m to pull the plug, I will do it!

So decide.



By LAWRENCE KEPANGI MAKILI
Earth Island Institute Regional Director