Dolphins travel hundreds of miles across the ocean, they are able to dive hundreds of feet.  They use echolocation as a tool to explore their diverse surroundings, determine where they and catch their live prey.  Each of these unique abilities, adapted for the huge and complex ocean environment over millions of years, are rendered useless when dolphins are enclosed in a lifeless, smooth tank without currents where they must eat dead fish at times of a humans choosing.  All captive dolphins whether born in captivity or taken from the wild, suffer mentally and physically from having their natural, instinctive skills inhibited. 

St Maarten is an island which prides itself on its natural beauty and its diverse marine life.  To develop a facility which would hold dolphins in a restrictive, unnatural and contrived tank or sea pen for human entertainment would be an absolute contradiction to this truly environmentally responsible island.  St Maarten is perfectly placed to develop responsible tourism within its diving community, local culture and local environment and perhaps even build up an ethical wild dolphin watching industry. 

With these points in mind, the Marine Connection would like to applaud the government of St Maarten for taking a forward-thinking and responsible decision which in the long-term will no doubt strengthen the island’s reputation as ethical and conscientious.

Andrina Murrell
Captivity Officer
www.marineconnection.org