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The dolphin die-off In 1987 large numbers of dead bottlenose dolphins (in excess of 700) were washed up on the coast of New Jersey, in the eastern USA. The dolphins were covered in sores, and their skin had become detached over large areas of their bodies. It was concluded that the dolphin's immune system had been seriously damaged, and that consequently they had succumbed to a variety of pathogens. The question still remains as to the cause of this immunosuppression. The US Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared that the cause was the ingestion of fish which contained toxins produced by a "red tide". A red tide is the result of extremely rapid growth of dinoflagellates, which are a type of plankton, resulting from extreme environmental factors (increased levels of certain fertilisers are known to contribute to such phenomena). They produce a toxin known as brevotoxin, and the NOAA declared that it was this substance entering the food chain that had caused the demise of the dolphins. However, it is widely held that the cause was in fact a high concentration of PCB's (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) which results from the dumping of waste of many different types. The level of PCB's in the dead dolphins ranged from 13 to 620 parts per million (ppm) with one yielding unprecedented levels of 6.800 ppm. Products which contain more than 5 ppm are required by law to be labelled toxic in the USA! For a comprehensive picture of ocean pollution by Greenpeace, Follow this link The modern fishing fleet harvests the seas indiscriminately. It does not distinguish between fish and marine mammals, and in it's quest for increased efficiency, slaughters thousands of dolphins each year drowned in nets. As the world's fish stocks become more depleted from over-fishing, there is a danger that man's pursuit of protein food will lead to a more determined capture of dolphins and whales to satisfy the demand. Several fishing practices have taken a toll on dolphin populations. Most lethal are drift nets and nets called purse seines, used to fish for yellowfin tuna. Because tuna often swim beneath dolphin schools, dolphins are actively sought. Fishermen then circle the tuna with mile-long (1.6-km) seine nets that trap fish and mammals alike. When this practice started in the 1950s, it killed more than a quarter of a million dolphins a year. Now boat captains are trained to employ manoeuvres that help release the dolphins. The dolphin kill now totals around 20,000 a year. The drift net, though, is the most indiscriminate killing device yet used at sea. Up to 40 miles (64 km) long, drift nets hang draped from floats, trapping virtually everything in their path. Fishermen haul the nets aboard, store the fish or squid, and discard everything else, including dolphins that have drowned while trapped. More on the threat from over-fishing. The dolphin has evolved over a period in excess of 30 million years to be superbly adapted to it's environment. It is a highly streamlined and efficient swimmer, due to it's shape and the composition of it's skin which reduces friction to a minimum. It has a highly developed brain, and if we ignore the mass of blubber under it's skin, it is the only animal to have a greater brain mass/body weight ratio than man. The entertainment industry has been exploiting this adaptation for many years and held dolphins |
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After many years of protest from animal rights groups etc., the numbers of such facilities |
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Consider the following statements from the Captivity Fact Sheet (Dolphin Project Europe, 1996):
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There is abundant material available on the Internet on this subject, and we do not intend to duplicate this material. One site the reader may wish to visit is WDCS (The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) which has much information on the current state of cetacean captivity and IDW are very supportive of their philosophy, aims and objectives. Another website concerned with captivity from a different viewpoint is Zalophus, and it must be stressed that the ideology expressed here is generally alien to IDW's, but the reader should draw his/her own conclusions. It is unfortunate that dolphins appear to have a smile on their faces which is one of the features that people often refer to that makes them "cute". Unlike humans, dolphins have no facial muscles and therefore are incapable of changing their expression. However, try telling a child that the dolphins at a dolphinarium show are not happy. Try telling a child that when a dolphin splashes the water with it's tail, it is expressing anger and frustration, not joy like the family dog. There are no captive dolphins in the United Kingdom. This has been achieved by educating people to the plight of captive dolphins, together with a total commitment by members of organisations like IDW who have campaigned relentlessly over many years. The situation is also improving in Europe due to similar efforts, but regrettably, this is not so in the USA, where powerful commercial organisations gain substantial revenue from "entertaining" with captive dolphins. Their publicity machines even strive to convince people that they are engaged in valuable research aimed ultimately at improving the dolphin's lot. Don't be fooled. |
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throughout the world has been in decline, and the UK, with none at all, leads the world. There are, however, still many captive dolphins, and IDW will not rest until there are none. Those with a vested commercial interest would have us believe that the dolphins are content with their lot, but the majority accept that it is morally indefensible to contain an animal that normally roams freely throughout great stretches of the world's oceans in highly organised social groups. |
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HAPPY DOLPHINS ARE FREE DOLPHINS We must try and make people more informed to make the decision of whether to support these facilities or not. They can only stay in business by popular demand. Do you really want to see more dolphins suffer? The following illustrates just how dolphins are being maltreated. It is a sad story with a happy ending. |
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16 February 1999 International Dolphin Watch is a non profit making organisation founded by myself in 1978 for the study and conservation of wild dolphins. An article that appeared in 'India To-day' magazine documenting the death of 3 captive dolphins at the above-mentioned park was brought to my attention by a member of our organisation. International Dolphin Watch has long championed the now growing belief that cetaceans should not be held in captivity. The long term detrimental effect on them is now well documented and accepted. There is no scientific or educational value in keeping dolphins in captivity. The United Kingdom leads the world by having no captive whales or dolphins. My purpose in writing is to ask you to look into this matter, and also the plan to import another 5 dolphins to replace those that died, and who will no doubt suffer a similar fate. Yours sincerely Dr H E Dobbs On April 12th 1999, the following reply was received from Mrs. Gandhi. Dear Dr Dobbs, I am sorry for my late reply as I was out of the country for a month. I have intervened in the matter since the dolphins that were imported died in the first ever dolphinarium sought to be set up in India. The import into India of all sea animals for the purpose of entertainment has been strictly prohibited both now and in the future. With Best Wishes Smt. Maneka Gandhi. The magazine article referred to above states that "the dolphins were the park's star attraction and huge moneyspinners". There is no doubt whatsoever that had this ban not been imposed, there would have been many more dolphinaria springing up in India. There is a very significant danger that as some third world countries become more affluent as a result of commerce developing on the backs of low cost labour, they will seek to develop leisure and associated industries which they perceive to be successful in the west. Can they be blamed for emulating the likes of Sea World? International Dolphin Watch will continue to campaign against any organisations that seek to deprive dolphins of their right to total freedom. YOU CAN HELP BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK |
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International Dolphin Watch 10 Melton Road, North Ferriby, E.Yorks HU14 3ET. England.
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