The Solomons government said "We believe that this opportunity should provide an avenue for all of us to air our views and establish an understanding as how to we would move forward."
But Solomon environmentalists said the forum was called just to re-enforce the government's annual export quota of 100 dolphins.
Pro and anti-dolphin exporters clashed at the forum, "in a heated debate that turned to personal attacks at times". But in the end both sides agreed that research into the wild dolphin population needs to be conducted urgently. This is to determine the number of animals in the wild.
"The export of bottlenose dolphin is our life, it is our only way of making money...and it is our culture to hunt dolphins," said Robert Satu of the Solomon Marine Export Limited.
Captured dolphins wait in pens in the Solomon Islands.Photo: Simon Schluter from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Full articles on the wildsingapore news blog.
Related articles and links
- Solomon Islands to host forum on international dolphin trade
- Resorts World Sentosa: at what price?
- Singapore SPCA speaks out against wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
- Philippines asked to return dolphins to the Solomon Islands Solomon Star 16 Jan 09;
- Dolphins at the Sentosa Integrated Resort: Senator cites Mexico's sad experience with dolphins Grace Chua, Straits Times 12 Jan 09;
- Facebook Group: Boycott Sentosa Marine Life Park
- SUFFERING, NOT SMILING: The Truth About Captive Dolphins on the Acres website.
- Singapore warned on dolphin imports for Resorts World Sentosa The Solomon Star 31 Dec 08;
- Animal activists decry need to import wild dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa Grace Chua, Straits Times 27 Dec 08;
- Another 11 Solomon dolphins for Resorts World Sentosa
- What will the Solomon dolphins go through in the Philippines? Some background of the facilities that will train them.
- Confirmation that the 7 dolphins are going to Resorts World Sentosa and what the dolphins cost
- First hints that the 7 dolphins were going to Resorts World Sentosa.
- Universal Studios distances itself from dolphins at Resorts World Sentosa.
- More about dolphins in general: their status, threats and other issues, on the wildsingapore news blog.
