Mexico: Trade in dolphins banned

WDCS is very pleased to announce the establishment of new legislation in Mexico that bans the import and export of marine mammals for commercial and subsistence purposes.

The Decree, which was officially published on Thursday 26th January, adds an article to Mexico's Wildlife Act, which states: "The importing, exporting and re-exporting of specimens of any species of marine mammal or primate or any parts or derivatives thereof is prohibited unless intended for scientific research, subject to authorisation being obtained from the Ministry."

Mexico's cetacean captivity industry has been one of the fastest growing in the world, particularly with the development of swim with dolphins programmes in tourist areas. Many dolphins have been captured in Mexican waters for public display in the increasing number of facilities holding these animals for shows and interactive programmes and even travelling circuses.

In 2001, a moratorium on the capture of dolphins in Mexican waters was established. Since then, Mexico has continued to import wild-caught dolphins from other countries including Cuba, where a large number of captures from the wild is having a unknown impact on the populations targeted. In a highly controversial move in 2003, Mexico imported 28 dolphins from the Solomon Islands, despite the lack of information about the populations targeted by the capture of more than 100 dolphins there. The new Decree, announced last week, should now see an end to Mexico's involvement in the international trade in dolphins, a move highly welcomed by WDCS and other dolphin protection organisations around the world.

WDCS has been working with conservation groups in Mexico to address the issue of continued trade in these animals.

For more information on the impact of captivity on whales and dolphins, please click on the links opposite.

Source: WDCS