The Editor, Sir:

A letter in the Hospitality Jamaica on December 27, 2006 stated that captive dolphin facilities were no threat to wild dolphin populations. We find this statement to be inaccurate. Captive dolphin facilities often rely on capturing dolphins from the wild. The two Jamaican facilities have received wild-caught dolphins from Mexico and, more recently, from Cuba. In the absence of data on wild stocks, which the writer of the letter concedes, removal from the wild cannot be reasonably defended. While the Jamaica Environment Trust agrees that there are other threats to dolphins, including sound, ship strikes, gear entanglement and pollution, it cannot be concluded that forcibly capturing wild dolphins is not also a threat.

Bottlenose dolphins are listed as Appendix II species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and therefore, any trade in these animals must be regulated. The exporting country must show a non-detriment finding (NDF) indicating that capture will not harm wild dolphin populations. Countries, such as Portugal, have questioned the NDF reports from Cuba, refusing to allow the importation of dolphins from this country. Jamaica's own CITES Scientific Authority has consistently denied import permits for dolphins coming from Cuba, but they have been approved by the CITES Management Authority, the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA). Mexico has recently disallowed the exportation and capture of bottlenose dolphins from their waters.

Not successful at captive breeding

The letter also mentions the captive breeding programme proposed by Dolphin Cove, here in Jamaica. This proposal intended to capture a large number of bottlenose dolphins from Jamaican waters, a species protected under Jamaica's Wildlife Protection Act. Of the eight dolphins that have already died between the two facilities in Jamaica, two have been calves, one died at only 14 days old while the other died at 4 months old. Dolphin Cove does not seem to be especially successful at captive breeding.

In the wild, dolphins travel hundreds of kilometres a day in complex social groups. Not even the largest captive facilities can recreate these environments.

Lastly, it is particularly ironic to learn Dolphin Cove will be "creating a mangrove wetland habitat display" in Lucea. The new facility at Lucea, if built, will in fact result in the destruction of important coastal ecosystems in the area, including mangroves and sea grass beds.

I am, etc.,

CHRISTINE O'SULLIVAN

Marine mammal specialist

Jamaica Environment Trust