The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) says it will protest any dolphin exports from Guyana if it is harmful to the dolphin population.

WSPA registered it concerns about the possible trade to the Convention on Inter-national Trade of Endangered Species Flora and Cauna (CITES), as opposition to dolphin exports mount locally.

Stabroek Business has a copy of the February 16th letter WSPA dispatched to CITES on the issue.

"WSPA, along with its member societies and animal protection and conservation organizations around the world, hopes to ensure that no plans go ahead which are injurious to the wild population or to the welfare of individual animals," Leah Garces, Head of WSPA Campaigns in London told CITES chief legislation and compliance officer, Marceil Yeater in the letter copied to John M. Sellar senior enforcement officer, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The WSPA organisation, is the largest international federation of animal welfare societies, with United Nations observer status in over 400 member societies in over 100 countries, the letter notes.

On February 5, Stabroek Business reported that Guyana plans to export dolphins this year after Khalawan, director of the Guyana Wildlife Division stated that a study was conducted by the wildlife division which showed that the dolphin population was sufficient for trade. In that article some wildlife exporters spoke out against the trade.

Guyana does not have to gain permission from CITES to trade in dolphins but as a signatory to the CITES convention must do a Non Detrimental Finding(NDF) to show that the trade is not harmful to the animal population being traded.

One local exporter told Stabroek Business that this is exactly what himself and some other exporters were trying to avoid. The exporter went on to say if CITES should intervene and decide to take action against Guyana then local wildlife exporters who have no intention of trading in dolphins would also be affected.

Khalawan, on Monday argued that the wildlife division could not shelve the idea of the dolphin trade based solely on criticisms but "will look at it more carefully."

Khalawan has already noted that the study showed Guyana's dolphin population at less than 10,000 but still sufficient for trade. Khalawan explained that if CITES, after looking at the Non Detrimental Study does not think it is adequate or is lacking and provides justifications for their concerns, then the wildlife division, will have to address these.

He said that since dolphins are Appendix II animals under the CITES convention meaning it can be traded commercially, the real issue is to ensure that the trade is within the regulations.

Garces in her letter to CITES also asks the body to clarify the status of the non-detrimental study done by Guyana to facilitate dolphin exportation.

"Bearing in mind that a Non-Detrimental Finding (NDF) is required to determine if such a large take will affect wild populations, we would be grateful to learn if a NDF has been completed for wild dolphin species in Guyana," the latter stated.

Guyana's NDF report was sent to CITES, according to Khalawan, but a CITES official in Geneva, Switzerland said on February 4 it could not confirm receiving the report as yet. As of Monday the wildlife division did not receive a response from CITES, Khalawan said.

Officials at CITES head office also said a meeting was going to be held during the second week of February to discuss Guyana's plans to export dolphins.

Khalawan has said that the NDF would be released after CITES sends a response.

But Susan Sherwin, WSPA's US campaign manager said a NDF takes at least three years to complete and it is impossible to conduct this study in a short space of time or in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, a volunteer United Nations marine conservationist argued that Guyana does not have the resources to conduct a three-year study and should be allowed to trade as long as sufficient evidence exists to show that the trade would be sustainable.

The volunteer noted that to abandon the trade altogether is not a good idea because the people of Guyana should be allowed to use their resources to better their livelihood.

Patrick Tohill, WSPAs' campaigns and communications manager, in Canada, in a telephone interview noted that he spoke with Khalawan and expressed his concerns.

Tohill stated that Khalawan admitted that the dolphins would be exported jointly with exporters based in Mexico. Khalawan confirmed that he spoke with Tohill and noted exporters from Mexico were going to be part of a joint venture between four companies. He did not state how many of these companies are local or foreign. Khalawan said the possible exporters have not made contact with him for awhile.

In Mexico a number of dolphins are used for entertainment purposes aimed at tourists even though Mexico itself has banned the dolphin trade in its waters.

Dolphins are known to be sold for as much as US$30,000 on the international market. In the Solomon Islands local fishermen were paid to catch the dolphins. Sherwin estimates that there are at least 26 dolphins still penned in the Solomon Islands.

According to campaigners, in the Solomon Islands, where exporters kept Bottlenose dolphins in captivity for trade, many died in the pens while being transported and more deaths occurred during the capture operation.

"...[We are]... alarmed that the recent scenario in the Solomon Islands may be repeated by this CITES signatory country," the letter stated.

"It's a lot more trouble than it is worth," says Sherwin. "People love dolphins."

She says WSPA has seen cases where overseas companies tried to take advantage of a countries with weak wildlife legislation and WSPA had to intervene.

In one country, Sherwin noted that WSPA had to help release several dolphins after an exporter backed out and left them in pens.

Mexico she stated has some 15 to 20 facilities for captive dolphins with approximately 150 dolphins in captivity.

Presently she says Mexico is not importing dolphins because of the outcry, when the country imported dolphins from the Solomon Islands. Sherwin noted that a number of investigations were carried out against officials in Mexico who OK the importation of dolphins from the Solomon Island and the secretary of environment in Mexico was relieve of his duties.

Because Mexican officials are alert for dolphin exports she says it is highly unlikely that Guyana's dolphins will be heading to Mexico but to another country.

Dr. Karen Pilgrim, a veterinarian told Stabroek Business even if Guyana goes ahead and exports these dolphins, she will like to know if the exporters will have the necessary technical assistance to ensure that these dolphins are not harmed.

Pilgrim argues that with the massive strength of a fully grown dolphin and the fact that they will struggle, to prevent capture, it is only fair that more information is released to say how these dolphins will be captured and in what facilities they will be held. Khalawan noted that the procedure was detailed in the NDF.

Pilgrim held the post of director of the Guyana Wildlife Division from 1986 to 1998. In an earlier report officials from Conservation International-Guyana also noted that more information should be released on the study.