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Secret
Dolphin Study Report Released!
Earth Island
Institute Releases Bush Administration Report Showing
Dolphin Slaughter in Tuna Nets Continues
Submitted by International
Marine Mammal Project
December 5, 2002
PRESS RELEASE
Contacts: Earth Island Institute
David Phillips (415) 788-3666
Mark J. Palmer (415) 788-3666
(San Francisco) - Earth Island Institute today
released a secret U.S. government report and posted a copy
on the Earth Island Website at www.earthisland.org/immp/secret_report.pdf
(Size: ~1 MB). Prepared by scientists in the Bush
Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
the report reveals that thousands of dolphins, especially
baby dolphins, are still dying in tuna nets in the Eastern
Tropical Pacific (ETP), largely in tuna fleets owned by tuna
millionaires in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and other
nations. Earth Island believes the Bush Administration is
hiding this damning report because it undermines its attempt
to falsely label dolphin-deadly tuna as “Dolphin Safe.”
“For the first time, NMFS has officially acknowledged the
massive and previously uncounted killing of baby dolphins
that are separated from their mothers during chase and
capture by tuna vessels using mile-long nets,” stated
David Phillips, Director of Earth Island Institute’s
International Marine Mammal Project. “This is a shocking
and tragic revelation.”
“This Report on NMFS scientists’ dolphin research
clearly shows that the technique favored by the Mexican tuna
fleet and other nations to catch tuna causes significant
harm to dolphins,” Phillips continued. “The Secretary of
Commerce would have to defy science, common sense, and the
law in order to weaken the U.S. federal standards for the
use of the ‘Dolphin Safe’ tuna label in light of the
report. This secret report reveals that dolphin numbers are
severely depleted and not recovering. Weakening the
‘Dolphin Safe’ tuna label would simply increase the
slaughter.”
The secret report, an accumulation of government research
conducted from 1997 to 2002, includes the following new
findings:
- Despite low reported dolphin kills from the tuna
fleets, dolphin populations remain seriously
depleted. Eastern Spinner dolphins remain at only
35% of their former numbers; Northeastern Offshore
Spotted dolphins are at only 20% of their former
numbers;
- More importantly, the research shows that dolphins are
NOT recovering as expected. By some calculations, the
populations may still be declining. By one analysis,
it would take 65 years for depleted Eastern Spinner
dolphins to recover, while depleted Northeastern
Offshore Spotted dolphins would take 78 years to
recover. Another analysis, equally supported by the
data, projects that neither species would recover after
200 years.
- At least an additional 6-10% of Eastern Spinner
dolphin mortality and an additional 10-15% of
Northeastern Offshore Spotted dolphin mortality is
occurring due to separation of dependent baby dolphins
from their mothers during the chasing and netting
process, and the percentage is likely higher.
- Nets are set on schools of dolphins 7,500 times
EACH YEAR, resulting in the chasing of 9.3 million
dolphins EACH YEAR and the capture in nets of 2.3
million dolphins EACH YEAR. Individual dolphins in the
ETP are chased an average of 5.6 times EACH YEAR and
captured an average of 0.7 times EACH YEAR for depleted
Eastern Spinner dolphins and chased 10.6 times EACH YEAR
and captured 3.2 times EACH YEAR for depleted
Northeastern Offshore Spotted dolphins. The Report
states that physiological stress (resulting in decreased
births, impaired health, and deaths of dolphins) is a
plausible explanation for the lack of recovery of
depleted dolphin populations.
- There is no evidence of any environmental changes
that could account for the magnitude of the lack of
recovery of dolphin populations. Indeed, the
carrying capacity of the ETP for dolphins would have to
decrease three- to four-fold in order to account for the
lack of recovery of dolphins.
- In conclusion, the tuna fishery is clearly the reason
for the dolphins’ lack of recovery. No other
explanation fits the research data or the facts.
The Secretary of Commerce has until the end of December to
make a finding as to whether the chasing and netting of
dolphins causes “significant adverse impacts” on
depleted dolphin populations. A finding of “no significant
adverse impacts” would automatically weaken the standards
for use of the “Dolphin Safe” tuna label, allowing a
flood of falsely labeled imported tuna from Latin American
nations.
“The American public deserves to know the truth about how
tuna was caught,” Phillips stated. “The Bush
Administration is sitting on this explosive report on the
dangers of chasing and netting dolphins. The Secretary of
Commerce is posed to decide to deliberately lie to American
consumers to benefit a small handful of Mexican tuna
millionaires and drug lords, who would be able import tuna
to the U.S. using a phony “Dolphin Safe” label. All of
the major U.S. and European tuna processors have pledged not
to buy or sell such tuna. American consumers won’t buy
tuna stained by the blood of dolphins!”
Earth Island Institute is a nonprofit educational
organization dedicated to protecting the diversity of life
on Earth. The International Marine Mammal Project
works to protect whales, dolphins and other marine mammals
around the world. VIDEO AVAILABLE: Broadcast
quality video footage by Samuel LaBudde of the devastating
effects of tuna nets on dolphins is available by calling
Earth Island (415) 788-3666.
For more information contact:
International Marine Mammal Project
David Phillips (415) 788-3666
Mark J. Palmer (415) 788-3666
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