For Immediate Release Media contact:

In the US: In the UK:

Courtney Vail, 480-747-5015 Danny Groves, +44 (0) 1249 449 534

WDC Applauds Aquarias Statement Opposing Capture of Whales and Dolphins from the Wild

November 6, 2012. WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, commends the recent announcements by
National Aquarium, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, and Sea Life, with centers worldwide, stating their strong opposition to collection of whales and dolphins from the wild for any purpose. Both statements (attached) were sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in response to the proposed import into the US of 18 belugas that were captured from the wild in the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Russia and represent a strong indictment against the continuing capture of whales and dolphins from the wild to supply public display facilities in the US and worldwide. National Aquariums strong statement against any further capture and importation of dolphins from the wild is a huge and courageous step forward towards both a symbolic and real commitment to progressive change for the public industry, stated Courtney Vail, WDC campaigns and programs manager. True
conservation calls for protection of these animals and the preservation of their populations in the wild, not captures for captivity. In making this bold statement, National Aquarium has just stepped out as a leader by

acknowledging what science and ethics has been telling us all along, and I hope that other enlightened aquariums will follow suit. These statements come just as the public comment period for Georgia Aquariums beluga permit request to NMFS has ended. Because of the controversy surrounding this import request, NMFS held both a public meeting on October 12th where all interested parties could share their concerns and extended its public comment period until October 29th. WDC presented testimony opposing the permit as well as a statement from the NGO community against the imports, signed by 65 international conservation and animal welfare organizations. Importing animals captured directly from the wild represents a significant departure from how US facilities have been acquiring whales and dolphins for public display over the past several decades, and is contrary to innovative and progressive trends within the aquarium community. Dolphin populations in US public display facilities have, in recent years, been maintained through captive breeding, imports, and the retention of stranded animals considered unsuitable for release back into the wild.

Just as Ocean Park Hong Kongs decision last year to listen to public outcry and not to import belugas captured from the wild in Russia, National Aquarium and Sea Life have taken a leadership role in acknowledging the publics desire to see an end to captures from the wild, stated Chris Butler-Stroud, WDCs chief executive. We are encouraged that instead of continuing to fuel the international trade in whales and dolphins, these organizations are putting their foot down and signaling their willingness to break this vicious cycle of supply and demand. I am hopeful that other aquaria will step forward and leave these outdated practices behind them. There have been no captures of wild dolphins in US waters since 1993, primarily because of public opposition and pressure. However, NMFS called for a voluntary moratorium in 1989 for the capture of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico and along the US Atlantic coast, due to a lack of information about dolphin populations. Over 2,300 bottlenose dolphins were captured for public display purposes between 1972 and 1993 in US waters, primarily from the Gulf of Mexico. The last attempt to import wildcaptured cetaceans deliberately for US facilities also occurred in 1993 when the Indianapolis Zoo and Marine World Africa USA attempted to import false killer whales (pseudorcas) from Japan and failed when it became apparent that the animals had been captured in the infamous and cruel dolphin drive hunts. WDC continues to call for an end to wild captures and imports for public display.

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WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation (formerly WDCS) is the leading global charity dedicated to the conservation and protection of whales and dolphins. We defend these remarkable creatures against the many threats they face through campaigns, advising governments, conservation projects, field research and rescue. www.whales.org The statements from both National Aquarium and Sea Life are part of the public record, and are attached for your convenience.