2 August 2012
The Honorable William Alistair Harrison
Governor
The Governor’s Office
PO Box 60
The Valley
Anguilla AI-2640
BY EMAIL: c/o kim.cutler@fco.gov.uk
Dear Governor Harrison:
This letter is sent on behalf of Humane Society International (HSI), Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Cetacean Society International (CSI), Earth Island Institute (EII), WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society), and World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and our more than 11 million supporters worldwide. We are aware that Dolphin Discovery has returned to Sandy Point Beach to establish a swim-with-dolphin facility there. We strongly urge you and your government to reconsider allowing this, as the location is particularly problematic for dolphins and any welfare problems that develop as a result of this will reflect poorly on Anguilla’s reputation as a premiere tourism destination.
This location is directly adjacent to the Blowing Point ferry terminal. The proximity of the terminal to the dolphin enclosure, while convenient for prospective customers who need only walk a short distance to visit the facility, is far from ideal for the dolphins, despite the conclusion of the environmental impact statement that this proximity will not harm the dolphins. The enclosure’s water quality may be compromised by engine and bilge discharges from many vessels transiting the area every day (especially given that the enclosure is down current from the terminal). Certainly the noise from this vessel traffic will affect the dolphins’ well-being; an increasing body of scientific research has determined that persistent underwater noise can result in increased stress in dolphins and interfere with their communication. We would be happy to provide journal and technical references regarding noise
impacts on cetaceans at your request.
The exposure of the enclosure to wind and currents – there is a reason this area is called Blowing Point – is also a serious concern. The original enclosure was in fact damaged by a storm. Should a serious storm or hurricane hit Anguilla, the dolphins may be injured or inadvertently released into nearby waters to an uncertain fate. If the contingency plan for a hurricane is to move the dolphins inland, this may also
prove harmful, as research has shown that transport is stressful for dolphins. Again, we would be happy to provide references for this growing body of stress research, should you wish to see them.
I personally visited the Sandy Point location in 2009 and frankly could not imagine a less appropriate location for a swim-with-dolphin attraction. Aside from the concerns noted above regarding dolphin welfare, the chop and swell of the water on a typically windy day will no doubt prove less than ideal from a swimmer’s standpoint as well. Customers to this attraction will have a rough time of it, literally, and may not recommend it, despite the hope of those invested in the development that they will.
Attitudes toward public display of whales and dolphins are shifting in the United States and Europe, the origin of many of the tourists who visit Anguilla. A growing number of people are aware that there is controversy regarding the welfare of captive dolphins, due to documentaries such as “The Whale” and the Academy Award-winning film “The Cove,” as well as books such as “Death at SeaWorld,” by David Kirby and “The Voice of the Dolphins,” by Hardy Jones. If Anguilla wishes to be a leader in high-end tourism in the Caribbean, allowing the establishment of a swim-with-dolphin attraction, especially in such an inappropriate location, is arguably regressive rather than progressive.
Once again, HSI, AWI, CSI, EII, WDCS, and WSPA strongly urge you and your government to reconsider permitting the dolphin enclosure at Blowing Point. Ultimately it may prove an economic negative rather than a boon, and the dolphin welfare concerns it raises can easily be avoided by denying Dolphin Discovery permission to operate there.
Thank you very much for your consideration of our views on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Senior Scientist
Humane Society International-Wildlife
On behalf of:
Animal Welfare Institute Cetacean Society International Earth Island Institute
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
World Society for the Protection of Animals
CC: The Honorable Walcott Richardson, Minister of Home Affairs, Natural Resources, Lands & Physical Planning
The Honorable Evan Gumbs, Minister of Infrastructure, Communication, Utilities & Housing
The Honorable Hubert Hughes, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Investments & Tourism
The Honorable Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary
