Tuesday, 01 September 2009
SOLOMON Islands Marine Wildlife Park yesterday caught about nine dolphins at the Marine school seashore in Honiara.
This came days after dolphin advocacy organisation like Earth Island Institute attacked the Government's policy to export live dolphins overseas.
It was a rare moment yesterday as hundreds of people turned up to watch the Park's fishermen trapping the live dolphins with their nets.
The show has turned into an excitement towards the end as the fishermen struggled with the mammals and lifted them onto their boats.
Inside the boat, the fishermen laid new mattresses bought from a shop as bed for the dolphins to rest on. One of the workers, Erick Chow said the dolphins were taken to their Park's pen.
The Park's pen is located behind the Prime Minister's office.
Mr Chow said as part of their catch, there were 10 dolphins kept in their pen.
He said they were still to verify the number of new dolphins caught when Solomon Star contacted them. However, Mr Chow said he was not sure which place Park will going to export the dolphins.
Solomon Islands Government's support for dolphins export has turned into a backfire for the tuna investment on Guadalcanal and Malaita.
This was after Earth Island Institute has informed investors during the 11th Tuna congress in General Santos City, Philippines last week that both Provinces have practised dolphins catch.
However, Western province was singled out because it did not allow dolphins catch in its waters.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11270&I
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