http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=745 

Saturday, cto!er "#, $%%7 &:4& '(

30 dolphins are bound for Dubai

It has been revealed that the Solomon Islands will once again

engage in the controversial dolphin trade.

)ncon*irmed reports ha+e stated that at least #% li+e dolphins will !e exported

to the (iddle ast as early as next wee-.

he exportation o* these dolphins comes *our years a*ter the last o* such

shipment to (exico caused international outrae. he then 0ema-e1a o+ernment

slapped a !an on the export o* dolphins and souht to cancel the license o* the

company that enaed in the trade.

he dolphin trade pic-ed up aain when the current Soa+are o+ernment a+e the

trade its !lessin. It is expected that a hih2le+el deleation will !e in Du!ai

to mar- the arri+al o* the dolphins next wee-.

he Solomon Islands (arine (ammal ducation 3entre and xporters imited said on

riday that the dolphins would !e collected *rom the company6s pens on the

island o* a+utu and *lown to Du!ai in the )nited 'ra! mirates.

3ompany director, 8o!ert Satu, was 9uoted in the I we!site as sayin that the

dolphins will !e *lown on two D32"%s that are scheduled to arri+e on uesday.

Satu also re+ealed that the company has hired a Du!ai *irm to pro+ide extra

security *or the animals6 arri+al, in a !id to deter conser+ationists *rom

stain any protests or tryin to !loc- the shipments.

 Although Satu refused to say how much the sale was worth, he said both his

company and the government would reap massive rewards. "Its big ! bigger than

gold or logging," said Satu.

Several international conservation groups, including the San rancisco!based

#arth Islands Institute, have continuously urged the government in $oniara to

stop the resumption of the live dolphin trade.

ocal en+ironmentalist, awrence (a-ili, said that the o+ernment should expect

some serious repercussions spearheaded !y international en+ironmental roups.

(a-ili also said that the trade may a**ect the tourism industry which would !e

+ery un*ortunate i+en the *act that it is still re2!uildin its imae a!road.

Such threats o* international sanctions has not deterred Satu as he is adamant

that the dolphin trade could help promote economic de+elopment, with local

communities esta!lishin their own dolphin *arms.

;e6+e already created the mar-et 2 they could <ust *ollow, he said.

3ateory: conomy

opic: n+ironmental Issues

http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=745