Govt praised for its dolphin export ban

November 17, 2005

17 November, 2005

By ROBERT L. IROGA

AN international environmental group has praised the government for taking the

right decision to gazette its ban on dolphin export.

Earth Island Institute, which has been lobbying against dolphin export, said the

decision is very vital because it opens the door for Solomon Islands to export

its tuna to foreign markets.

EII’s Associate Director of International Marine Mammal Project Mark Berman said

already major importers of tuna have decided against importing tuna from the

Solomons because it allows for the export of dolphins.

EII has been working hard with Sultan to convince the government to put an end

to export of dolphins.

Mr Berman said many countries don’t want to buy tuna where dolphin is exploited.

He said given that tuna is a big business here, the country stands to lose

millions of dollars if the government does not ban the export of tuna.

“I am pleased that the government will now gazette the ban,” Mr Berman told the

Solomon Star yesterday.

Solomon Islands earns $100m in tuna exports a year.

Mr Berman said certainly the gazetting of the export ban open new markets for

the country’s tuna.

Meanwhile the American said the good thing about exporting tuna is it benefits

the country whilst the dolphin just only a few.

At the same time they also exploit them, added Mr Berman.

Solomon Islands was at the centre of attention after it exported a number of

dolphins to Mexico two years ago.

Recent reports said 40 more dolphins were supposed to be exported on Tuesday.

The government has denied the reports which were in fact untrue.

Mr Berman urges Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre to release the

dolphins it currently kept at Gavutu.

He said they would like to see those dolphins freed.

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