Subject: Scientists Speak Out Against Dolphin Death Act

From: [email-masked] (Ken Yarborough- Earth Island Institute)
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 12:39:37 -0800

Scientists Speak Out Against Dolphin Death Act

Lapses in Congressional Testimony Cited

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 12, 1996
 
Contacts: David Phillips
Mark J. Palmer
(415) 788-3666

Dr. Albert Myrick
(619) 286-0561

Dr. John Hall
(510) 937-1556

Two prominent marine mammal scientists  are speaking out against
misleading and discredited testimony made by supporters of H.R.2823 and
S.1420, bills labeled by opponents as the "Dolphin Death Act." This
legislation will in fact harm dolphins and do nothing to protect other
species in the fishery, such as sea turtles and immature tuna, according
to these scientists. They have been joined by a third scientist, a member
of the National Academy of Scientists tuna/dolphin panel, in denouncing
the proposed evisceration of dolphin protection laws.

H.R.2823 by Representatives Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) [phone 202-225-5311,
fax 202-225-0254 ] and Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) [phone 202-225-5452]
and S.1420 by Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) [email:
[email-masked]] and John Breaux
[email:[email-masked]] (R-LA) would seriously weaken U.S.
dolphin protection laws by lifting the embargo against imports and allow
sales of dolphin-deadly tuna while changing the federal definition of
"dolphin safe" to allow chasing, harassing, injuring and encircling
dolphins with nets, as long as no dolphins were "observed" killed
outright. H.R.2823 was approved in May by the House Resources Committee;
S.1420 was approved on voice vote Thursday, June 6th, by the Senate
Commerce Committee.

In recent Congressional hearings, supporters of H.R.2823 and S.1420,
including the U.S. Department of State and the organization Center for
Marine Conservation, have argued that the new definition to allow chase
and encirclement would not harm dolphins and that setting tuna nets
deliberately on schools of dolphins would avoid harming other species such
as sea turtles and immature tuna.

But Dr. Albert Myrick Jr. and Dr. John Hall contend these statements are
couched in dubious science and hence make serious errors.

Dr. Albert Myrick, the author of extensive field studies on the traumatic
effects of chase and capture on wild dolphins, submitted in a written
statement to Congress: "...the (Center for Marine Conservation) testimony
is a particularly excellent example of criticism that is irresponsible,
illegitimate, and unprofessional. It has misrepresented the evidence by
the use of reporting errors, omissions, and misstatements and cavalier
disposition of important pieces of research reports..."

Myrick points out that: "Although these studies have not yet provided
definitive answers concerning the full extent to which (Eastern Tropical
Pacific Ocean) dolphins have been and continue to be affected, their
results implicate fishery stress as being associated with dolphin dental
resorption, hypocalcemia, delayed sexual maturity and reduced pregnancy
rates, darkened adrenal cortices and non-entanglement mortality, and
enhanced analgesic behavior in the nets."

Myrick concludes that: "If the dolphins died from stress in the nets, then
at least some would be expected to have died before they reached the nets
(and sank unobserved). Furthermore, additional stress mortalities would be
expected to have occurred among dolphins after their release from the
nets."

Dr. John Hall, a marine mammal specialist and active fisherman, in a
letter to President Bill Clinton, disputed the claims that setting nets on
schools of dolphins would protect other species: "As a marine biologist
who has been involved in the eastern tropical Pacific tuna fishery for
almost 30 years (since 1970) I want to assure you that implementing the
Panama Declaration through H.R.2823 and S.1420 will NOT reduce bycatch
(dolphins, fish and sea turtles) in the tuna purse seine fishery."

"In order to reduce bycatch of fish and sea turtles," Dr. Hall's letter
continues, "we need to work to close those areas of the Gulf of Panama to
purse seining during that portion of the year when small tuna are most
prevalent there."

"Signing a bill based on H.R.2823 and S.1420 ... will result in the deaths
of tens of thousands of additional dolphins and untold mortalities of
fish, sharks and sea turtles," Dr. Hall concluded.

In an earlier statement, Dr. Roger Payne, who has studied whales and
dolphins around the world as President of the Whale Conservation
Institute, contends that: "I feel strongly that any legislation which
fosters or legitimizes the practice of setting nets on dolphins is wrong
... The new definition (of Dolphin Safe) ignores the effects on dolphins
of direct injuries, as well as the physiological effects from stress of
repeated capture."

Over 7 million dolphins have been killed in the tuna fishery in the past
three decades. Dolphin safe laws of the United States have helped reduce
the deliberate targeting and killing of dolphins in the tuna fishery. As
these scientists attest, the arguments for changing the definition of
dolphin safe or for allowing continued encirclement of dolphins have no
valid scientific basis.

*****************

Earth Island Institute is a nonprofit environmental organization that has
been active in marine mammal conservation since 1988. The International
Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute works to protect dolphins,
whales, and other marine mammals around the world.

VIDEO AVAILABLE: Video footage of wild dolphins and the deadly effects of purse
seine tuna nets on dolphins is available.

*****************

International Marine Mammal Project
Earth Island Institute
300 Broadway, Suite 28
San Francisco, CA 94133
tel.: (415) 788-3666 fax: (415) 788-7324
email: [email-masked]
http://www.earthisland.org/

-- 
Earth Island Institute
Ken Yarborough
http://www.earthisland.org/