Solomon Islands to ban dolphin exports as of January 2012

Dolphin ban
Solomon Star 12 Sep 11;

THE Cabinet has passed a new policy to ban the export of dolphins beginning January next year.

The decision was passed on Thursday last week during a Cabinet meeting. “This importantly implies that come January 1st 2012, the ban on dolphin export will become effective,” a statement from the Ministry of Environment and Conservation said.

However, the statement said from now until the end of this year, dolphin exporters are allowed to export on a quota of 50 dolphins per year.

This is to allow dolphin exporters to change their business strategy, since the ban would be effective until the end of this year.

The decision is likely to put an end to live dolphin export out of the country since the export was lifted by the previous Government led by Dr Derek Sikua.

This was, when they passed a decision to export a quota of 50 animals per year.

Therefore, as a way to preserve our dolphins, the Cabinet had decided to put a close to this activity of dolphin export, the ministry said in a statement.

“As a responsible Government, the National Coalition and Rural Advancement (NCRA) have to take care of Solomon Islanders including the interest of Solomon Islands exporters,” the statement said.

“As a responsible government, that is our foremost responsibility.”

The Government believes their recent decision was a fair policy approach to protect dolphin exporters and to protect the country’s new policy shift from off-shore to onshore fisheries resources development.

The statement said their decision had nothing to do with outside pressure from local and international conservation groups.

“This ban on dolphin export is not in response to the outbursts of Earth Island Institute and Animal Welfare groups,” it said.

“It is however, in response to the call for conservation of marine species as specified in the NCRA Policy Statement and respective strategic and corporate plans of the Environment Ministry and Fisheries Ministry.”

By DOUGLAS MARAU

Government Stands by Decision to Export Dolphin
Solomon Times 12 Sep 11;

Mr Sore has also revealed that the Government has made another policy decision on Thursday, 8 September 2011, to effectively ban all dolphin export starting Sunday, 1 January 2012.

Recent media outbursts by Earth Island Institute and China Animals Welfare Committee will not deter the decision by the Government to implement its policy on the export of wildlife.

The government had decided to stand by a former cabinet decision to uphold a quota of 50 live dolphin exports per year and government has made it clear that "the decision still stands."

In a media statement, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Conservation, Rence Sore, confirmed that a normal 6 month permit was issued to Fulaiala on 4 April 2011.

"Because of the validity of Government Policy on export of live dolphin and, the validity of CITES Export Permit to Fulaiala - it is only reasonable that all Government instruments operate in tandem," said Mr Sore. "To this end, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources had to re-look at its decision not to issue licenses and permits to the private sector."

"As for Earth Island Institute's call for the Prime Minister to step in and fire the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), who is also supervising Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) - we say that no official is fired unjustifiably for doing what is right - implementing Government policies. On the contrary, officials are only fired for not implementing Government policies."

Mr Sore says that Earth Island Institute is aware that the Government has concluded a recent survey of dolphins in Solomon Islands waters. The report of the survey will be released in December 2011.

Meanwhile, Mr Sore has revealed that the Government has made another policy decision on Thursday, 8 September 2011, to effectively ban all dolphin export starting Sunday, 1 January 2012.

"This ban on dolphin export is not in response to the outbursts of Earth Island Institute rather it is in response to the call for conservation of marine species as specified in the NCRA Policy Statement and respective Strategic and Corporate Plans of the Ministry of Environment and Conservation."