Live dolphins export not sustainable in Solomon Islands

Radio Australia 17 May 12;

An independent assessment shows that the population of dolphins in Solomon Islands cannot sustain the export of live dolphins.
Live dolphins export not sustainable in Solomon Islands: SPWRC (Credit: ABC)

There's been a lot of controversy over the Solomon Islands government's policy which allows the export of 50 live dolphins each year.

The report by the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium just released in Honiara, says this quota is way beyond what the population of the species of dolphin concerned can sustain.

It says in Guadalcanal Province where most of the dolphins for export are captured, the sustainable quota is one dolphin in five years.

Report warns Solomons dolphin exports unsustainable
Radio Australia 18 May 12;

An independent assessment of Solomon Islands dolphin exports has warned the current quota is unsustainable.
Solomons Islands decision to continue exports of 50 live dolphins each year has been met with controversy. [File photo, Shark Bay Dolphin Project]

The Solomons' decision to continue exports of 50 live dolphins each year has been met with controversy.

A report by the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium, presented in Honiara, says that level of export is way beyond what the population can sustain.

It says the dolphin population in Guadalcanal Province, which has been the biggest source of dolphins for export, may have been depleted by as much as half - and recommend no more than one dolphin should be removed from there every five years.

The report also highlighted the number of dolphins that die during capture before they are exported, and recommended the government base the quota on the number of dolphins captured, rather than the number for export.

It also found that as dolphin populations in the region do not intermingle, individual populations should be managed separately.

The report was presented at a two day workshop in Honiara, which Solomons Islands Ministry of Environment says will lead to a national management plan for the dolphins.

The Solomon Island's Government is yet to react to the report.