End All Captures of Dolphins for Public Display in U.S. Territorial Waters
Members of Congress
There has not been a dolphin capture for public display in U.S. Territorial waters since 1993 due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Its incredibly difficult for an aquarium to obtain permits to capture dolphins humanely but unfortunately it is still not considered illegal. We would like to see an amendment of the MMPA to include a clause that will end the capture of dolphins for public display in the United States.
All capture methods for cetaceans are considered inhumane which include drive-formations and seine nets. As seen in the Academy Award-winning documentary “The Cove”, fisherman chase large pods of dolphins into a natural inlets for hours on end. Once the animals are secure in the cove, many sustain serious injuries or die during the selection for captivity. These methods have been labeled as cruel and inhumane by scientists and dolphin experts globally. Given the purpose of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, this is an activity that should also be illegal in US waters.
When dolphins are chosen by aquariums for public display after capture, they endure a stressful transportation process to their destinations that can sometimes takes days. Studies show the potential for numerous health issues in transported animals. Captured cetaceans are confined to desolate tanks without stimulation. Many marine mammal experts and scientists agree that keeping these intelligent self-aware animals in captivity is wrong and support a ban for public display.
We are petitioning Congress to modify the Marine Mammal Protection Act to include a clause that bans all captures of dolphins in US waters. Permits cannot be granted for capture of these animals because the process is both stressful and inhumane. We want to see a complete phase-out of dolphins being used for public display and entertainment in America.
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Members of Congress
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[Your Name]
Please end all captures of dolphins for public display in U.S. Territorial waters. Currently there has not been a dolphin capture in the United States since 1993 due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It has made it incredibly difficult to capture dolphins humanely.
Still, it is not considered illegal and any US facility can apply for a permit to take whales and dolphins from American waters. Please amend the MMPA to include a clause that will end the capture of dolphins for public display.
Current capture methods for dolphins are not humane, and include cruel drive-formation round-ups and seine nets. The former method can be observed in the Academy Award-winning documentary, “The Cove”.
The Cove followed the practice of fisherman in Taiji, Japan who use motorized boats to chase large pods of dolphins into a natural inlet. This highly stressful chase can takes hours. Once the dolphins are secured in the cove, many sustain serious injury or die during the selection for captivity process. Both of theses capture methods have been labeled cruel and inhumane by scientists and dolphin experts globally. Given the purpose of the MMPA, this is an activity that should be illegal in U.S. Waters too.
Once a dolphin is chosen by an aquarium the animal must endure a stressful transportation process to their destination. This can sometimes take days. Forced to lay immobile for hours in small containers, these animals arrive at the aquarium in shock.
Studies show the potential for numerous health issues in transported animals, particularly when it is a multi-stage transport. Having survived capture and transportation, the cetacean is confined to a desolate tank without stimulation. Many marine mammals experts and scientists agree that keeping these intelligent self-aware animals in captivity is wrong and support a ban for public display.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act needs to be modified to include a clause that bans all captures of dolphins in U.S. Waters. As described in this letter, the capture process is both stressful and inhumane for cetaceans, therefore permits cannot be granted for capture. Please make dolphin captures illegal in American waters so that we are one step closer to a complete phase out of dolphins being used for public display and entertainment.