JET opposes Lucea dolphinarium

As the popular Dolphin Cove Attraction prepares to establish a new facility in Lucea early next year, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) has again voiced opposition to the construction of another marine theme park on the island.

Marine Mammal Specialist at JET, Christine O'Sullivan, told Hospitality Jamaica that her organisation had serious environmental, legal and animal welfare concerns about the two Dolphin Cove facilities being operated on the island. She said any application to construct a third facility should be rejected by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

"We don't want the capture of dolphins in Jamaican waters. We do not want any new dolphin facilities to be opened. We are opposed to dolphins in captivity. We are opposed to all facilities that have dolphins in captivity wherever they are in the world and we will continue to send petitions to the Minister (of Environment)," Ms. O'Sullivan said. "JET is not against development, but any development in this island has to be done in a sustainable manner. Keeping dolphins in captivity is not sustainable, because these dolphins are constantly being taken from the wild and they take a long time to reach sexual maturity."

But Managing Director of the Dophin Cove Attraction Stafford Burrowes, told Hospitality Jamaica that the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) had requested a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). He said the assessment was still being conducted, and that he was hoping to break ground as soon as the approval was granted.

primary attraction

The proposed facility is to be sited on 20 acres of seafront land between Mosquito Cove and the site of the new Fiesta Hotel at Point Estate and is expected to employ 200 persons. The primary attraction is expected to be dolphin-interactive tours as well as mini-attractions including a bird and fish sanctuary. Dolphin Cove already operates two facilities in Jamaica, one in Ocho Rios and the other at Half Moon in Montego Bay. Next year the company plans to construct its first facility in Grand Cayman.

Ms. O'Sullivan said JET was also concerned about the very little educational and conservation material on dolphins at the Dolphin Cove facilities. She said this could not enhance the public's opinion of wild dolphins, and as a result many visitors leave with the impression that the bottlenose dolphins at the facility "are not the top predators that they are in the wild". This accusation was however refuted by Mr. Burrowes.

"How can JET say that enough educational materials are not at the facilities. Are they at Dolphin Cove every day of the year?" he contended. "Over 10,000 schoolchildren from Jamaica visited Dolphin Cove this Summer. Many were from the very rural areas and some were seeing dolphins for the first time. We provided them with a wealth of educational information even provided them with an educational tour on our Jamaican snakes. Dolphins have no negative effect on the environment. It is an animal rights issue, not an environmental issue."

Mr. Burrowes admitted that several of his dolphins had died, but dismissed claims made by the JET representatives that dolphins had a low survival rate at the facilities. JET had revealed information from the NEPA that eight of 21 dolphins had died at both facilities between 2001 and 2005.

"I have to buy imported dolphins," Mr. Burrowes said. "Some dolphins come here and don't last a week. They were not well when they came here and we never knew. Two dolphins came here and did not even live a week. They came here unwell. We did not kill them. It has been well documented that when dolphins have their first calves those calves hardly ever survive so that is nothing unusual," he added. "Six years ago Dolphin Cove started out with four dolphins. Now we have 16, and the first four are still alive and happy."