Dolphin Slaughter Dolphins in U.S. Aquaria?

Sources Ric O'Barry's “The Cove” presented by the Oceanic Preservation

Society (http://www.thecovemovie.com/)

“SeaWorld Has a Whale of Financial Debt in Their Financial Tank” written by Candace Calloway Whiting for the Seattle Pi (http://bit.ly/fnGd80)

The National Marine Fisheries Service's Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/laws/mmpa.pdf)

Google Image Search

The 2009 Documentary “The Cove” was widely accepted by audiencesin the United States.

“The Cove” won an AcademyAward for Best Documentaryin 2010.

Ric O'Barry falsely claims that he trained dolphinsfor the “Flipper” television series.

Ric was hired on the “Flipper” television series asan Underwater Camera Specialist.

Ric eagerly accepted the opportunity to help “babysit”the dolphins in between shots for “Flipper”; no employeeswere specifically hired to train dolphins.

Every year, about 2,500dolphins are brutally killedin the small fishing town ofTaiji, Japan.

Most of the dolphins areused for meat.

Only about one percentof the captured Taiji dolphins are shipped to aquariums.

Dolphins cost about$200,000 U.S.

Killer whales cost about$2,000,000 U.S.

“The MMPA prohibits, with certain exceptions, the "take" of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas, and the importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products into the U.S.” (Source: National Marine Fisheries Service)

Exception to the MMPA: animals like Winter

So, what does “The Cove” have to do withcaptive whales and dolphins in the United

States?

“The Cove” persuades people to believe that aquariums in the United States get their dolphins from drive fisheries.

In 2010Dawn Brancheau drowned

by Tilikum

Four killer whales diedWithin all three of the

SeaWorld parks.

SeaWorld is currently trying to refinance $1 billion in debtby adding new shows and attractions to all three of their

parks.