Secret dolphin report released

Earth Island Institute, Spring, 2003

IMMP has obtained a secret research report on dolphins and posted a copy on EII's website. Prepared by scientists in the Bush administration's

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the report reveals that thousands of dolphins are still dying in tuna nets in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), largely in tuna fleets owned by millionaires in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and other tuna fishing nations.

"This report on NMFS scientists' dolphin research clearly shows that the technique favored by the Mexican fleet and other nations to catch tuna harms dolphins," says David Phillips, IMMP director. "The Secretary of Commerce has until the end of December 2002 to determine if he will weaken the US federal standards for the use of the 'Dolphin Safe' tuna label in order to allow Mexican and other tuna importers to falsely claim their tuna does no harm to dolphins. This secret report shows that dolphins are still dying in tuna nets and that weakening the 'Dolphin Safe' tuna label would increase the slaughter."

The report, the result of NMFS research conducted from 1997 to 2002, includes many shocking statistics:

Despite low "reported" dolphin kills from the tuna fleets, dolphin populations remain seriously depleted. Eastern spinner dolphins remain at only 35 percent of their former numbers, while northeastern offshore spotted dolphins are at only 20 percent. Either the dolphin mortality reports are false, or dolphins are dying in tuna nets out of sight of onboard observers. 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 will take 65 years for depleted eastern spinner dolphins to recover, while depleted northeastern offshore spotted dolphins would take 78 years to recover. Another analysis supported by the data projects that neither species would recover after 200 years. According to calculations based on NMFS populations models, 43,590 dolphins are dying in tuna nets each year.

Nets are set on dolphins 5,000 times annually, resulting in the chasing of 9.6 million dolphins and the capture in nets of 2.3 million dolphins each year. Individual eastern spinner dolphins in the ETP are chased an average of 5.6 times each year, and two out of three captured annually. Individual northeastern offshore spotted dolphins average 10.6 chases and 3.2 captures each year. The report states that physiological stress- resulting in low birth rate, ill health, and early death-is a plausible explanation for the lack of recovery of dolphins.

At least an additional 6-10 percent of eastern spinner dolphin mortality and an additional 10-15 percent of northeastern offshore spotted dolphin mortality occurs when dependent calves become separated from their mothers during the chasing and netting process, and the percentage is likely higher.

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 short, the practice of chasing and netting dolphins to catch the tuna that swim beneath is clearly the reason for the dolphins' lack of recovery. No other explanation fits the research data or the facts.

"The American public deserves to know the truth about how tuna is caught," says Phillips. "The Bush administration is sitting on this explosive report that details the dangers of chasing and netting dolphins. The Secretary of Commerce is poised 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 US using a phony "Dolphin Safe" label. All of the major US 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!"

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