Dolphins in captivity will hurt ecosystem
published: Monday | September 1, 2003

THE EDITOR, Sir:

PLEASE ADVISE the Jamaican media and the tourist industry that most of the public, especially potential visitors to the island, oppose dolphins in captivity.

Dolphin captures are traumatic to the individual animals, many of whom die within the first few days or weeks of capture.

Dolphin captures may also be ecologically damaging, because dolphins play a vital ecological role. Given the total lack of knowledge about how many dolphins Jamaica has, any capture might cause local depletions that would inevitable impact the local ecosystem.

"Swim-with-Dolphins" encounters can be dangerous for dolphins and people. Expanding captive dolphin facilities in Jamaica will only hurt, not help, Jamaica's tourism.

I am, etc.,

DINDA EVANS

dindamcp4@yahoo.com

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