Dolphins swim free as regulatory body busy with conference
By Nicosia Smith
Stabroek News
May 21, 2004
Non-governmental groups opposed to plans to export dolphins will have to wait a while longer for a response from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), on the proposed trade.
Guyana's Wildlife Division several months ago submitted to CITES the required Non-Detrimental Finding (NDF) to export bottle-nose dolphins, which showed that the trade would not be detrimental to the species.
Marceil Yeater, CITES chief legislation and compliance officer told Stabroek Business on May 7 that the scientific authority at CITES was making progress in its review of Guyana's NDF and had already made some preliminary findings. Yeater also explained that she was not privy to the preliminary report, so could not say what were the findings.
The CITES official noted that since the Convention is busy preparing for the Conference of the Parties (the 13th general meeting for all 166 member countries) a formal decision on the study will be delayed.
Nevertheless, Yeater says a response will be forthcoming, "definitely this year."
Local authorities who earlier stated that trade permits will be issued this year for dolphin exports now say that they are awaiting a response from CITES. Four exporters have already expressed an interest in the trade with exporters from Mexico being one.
Consultant Rueben Charles, a former chief fisheries officer was commissioned by the wildlife division to conduct the NDF which shows that Guyana has less than 10,000 dolphins in its waters, but that this was sufficient for trade.
Both Charles and the wildlife division have refused to make the NDF public saying this will be done after CITES sends a response. The wildlife division has also not made any public statements concerning its plans to export dolphins.
But as regards the transporting or holding of the dolphins, wildlife officials have stated that the exporters themselves would have to see to this.
However, the Convention and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) stipulate that the exporting country must have measures in place to ensure the safety of the animals being exported.
On May 10, Khalawan, Director of the Wildlife Division explained that he was not privy to any information from CITES' preliminary report.
Khalawan recently contacted the Convention to ascertain the status of the review being done, but said he was yet to check his email for a reply, adding at the time of the interview, that he was in a meeting.
If CITES suspends Guyana, then all other Parties to the Convention will not accept wildlife exports from here as was the case in the 1980s.
Stabroek Business' report of the plans to export dolphins has brought international attention to Guyana's wildlife trade.
Local and international wildlife experts claim that Guyana does not have the relevant scientific information to support a non-detrimental study, which is required to export Appendix 11 animals such as dolphins.
Critics say that local authorities do not have the necessary scientific data such as the breeding habits, death and birth rates and the actual numbers specifically in Guyana's waters.
In March, over 20 non-governmental organizations from six different countries addressed a letter to Khalawan protesting Guyana's plans to export dolphins in the absence of scientific evidence.