Countries which banned delphinariums or dolphin imports
1. United Kingdom
All Britain's
dolphinariums had closed down by 1993. This was primarily as a
result of a report commissioned by the Department of the Environment (DoE) in
1985, "A Review of Dolphinaria". The report was commissioned to
determine whether
the education, research and breeding efforts of dolphinariums
could justify their display. The report was critical of the situation
in the UK and recommended a series of standards that dolphinaria should
comply with. The standards from this report were revised and accepted
in 1988 by the DoE and they had to be implemented by all dolphinaria
by 1993. This closed the dolphinariums down. The standards were attached
to the 'Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice' in 1990
These standards are the strictest worldwide. They include clauses like keeping
marine mammals in similar social structures that they are used to in
the wild and that no single specimens of species can be kept.
2.
Australia
Queensland State has banned future captures of wild cetaceans following public
outcry.
3.
Chile
In addition to the prohibition of import of bottlenose dolphins for captive display, important modifications were made on the regulations concerning Marine Mammals.
- Chilean Fisheries Authority makes modifications that tend towards strict regulations and the future Prohibition for
further Imports of cetaceans for captive display.
- Authorities forbid the capture of dolphins in Chilean Waters.
On October 21, the Subsecretaría de Pesca, the Chilean Subsecretary Of Fisheries Office made important modifications regarding the regulations for the exploitation, capture, and importation of marine mammals.
According to the resolution Nº 1930 , Oct. 21 of the year 1999, marine mammals have been eliminated from the list of animals appliable for importation.
Therefore, the import of any Cetacean species is for now under strict control, and tending to end their utilization in captivity.
Furthermore, the captures of Cetaceans in Chilean waters has been forbidden.
On the other hand, the common sea lion Otaria byronia, ( or Otaria flavescens) which until recently was heavily exploited (for oil, bait, and fur), and legally slaughtered by fisherman backed by Chilean authority (under the excuse as "competition for fish stocks"). In 1995, the Subsecretary placed a five 5 year moratorium, which has now been extended, according to the recent modifications, for another 5 years.
As an effort to protect endangered species according to the CITES convention, the fisheries authority has additionally considered, in the referred modifications, the ecological and sanitary disadvantages in maintaining cetaceans in captivity.
Since the elimination of marine mammals from the list of animals appliable for import, and in conjuction with the regulations of National Customs Office (Oficina Nacional de Aduanas), any imports of marine mammals will now be regulated under the regulations for species falling as Category I.
To know more :
Yayais Cabrera
Director Dp. of Education - Cinematographer
Centre for Marine Mammals Research Leviathan
Lo Beltran 2251 - Vitacura
Santiago - Chile
Email: leviathan@interactiva.cl
4.
Hungary
Five
bottlenose dolphins were illegally imported in July 1992. Onedied within the
first week. In October of the same year Hungary returned the
remaining dolphins to the Ukraine, closed its dolphinarium and prohibited
further imports.
5. Turkey
Four
dolphins imported from Ukraine to Turkey in May
1995 were returned to Ukraine in August of the same year when the Turkish
Authorities closed the dolphinarium.
6. Israel
Israel
imports of Black Sea bottlenose dolphins led the Environment Minister to lobby
against further imports. No import permit has been granted since the mid-1990s.
7.
India
In India, three bottlenose dolphins imported in 1998 all died within 3 months of
arrival. This tragedy led the Indian Authorities to close its one and only
dolphinarium
and deny further imports.
8.
Argentina
In
Argentina too, the premature deaths of twelve dolphins imported in the early 1990s
from the Black Sea led the Argentine Authorities to suspend further imports of
dolphins into the country.
Information
received from
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
http://www.wdcs.org