Dear Colleagues,

This is to announce the release of a new Animals & Society Institute policy paper by myself and Kristen Stewart entitled:

"Dolphin-Human Interaction Programs: Policies, Problems and Alternatives,"

Summary:

We examine dolphin protection policy, particularly the question of harassment, as it pertains to recreational human-dolphin interactions in the wild and in captivity. We conclude that current policy measures are inconsistent and deficient and we offer recommendations for improving the welfare of both dolphins and humans.

Please see the Press Release below.

To purchase a copy of the paper and support ASI, please go to:

https://plus7.safe-order.net/psyeta/catalog/index.php?cPath=3

Thank you.

Lori Marino

News Release

For immediate release May 18, 2009

Contact: Kenneth J. Shapiro, Executive Director, Animals and Society Institute, (301) 963-4751

Swimming with Dolphins: Experts Find Dolphin Protection Laws and Policies Flawed

(Ann Arbor, Michigan): A national animal protection organization has issued a policy paper concluding that current dolphin protection laws are inconsistent, based on unsupported assumptions, and ultimately detrimental to dolphins.

Published by the nonprofit Animals and Society Institute, "Dolphin-Human Interaction Programs: Policies, Problems and Alternatives," was co-authored by Kristin L. Stewart. J.D., Ph.D. and Lori Marino, Ph.D. Dr. Marino is a senior lecturer in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University whose work focuses on cetacean and primate intelligence and brain evolution. Dr. Stewart is an attorney, scholar and consultant concentrating on animal law, policy and ethics.  The paper is being circulated to institutions, organizations and government agencies related to marine mammal protection.

In their paper, Stewart and Marino examine the conditions under which both wild and captive dolphins interact with human beings. The practice of people swimming with dolphins in the ocean or in marine parks, under the guise of both recreation and therapy, has become increasingly popular but also increasingly problematic. Considering the Marine Mammal Protection Act and other laws and regulations aimed

at protecting dolphins from harm and harassment, thereby undercutting the basic aim of such policies:  to keep dolphins safe from harm.

Says Kenneth J. Shapiro, executive director of the ASI, "The purpose of this paper is to encourage a wholesale review of policies that should be providing consistent protection to both wild and captive dolphins. Despite the intent of U.S. law, evidence shows that dolphins are subject to exploitation, harassment, and other kinds of harm.” The paper concludes with several recommendations, and challenges the current law’s continued sanctioning of dolphin display facilities and swim-with-dolphins programs.

The Animals and Society Institute, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a nonprofit, independent research and educational organization that advances the status of animals in public policy and promotes the study of human-animal relationships. The policy paper about dolphins is the fifth in a series that focuses on contemporary animal protection issues. Additional information is available at www.animalsandsociety.org.

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Lori Marino, Ph.D.

Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology Program

1462 Clifton Road, Suite 304

Emory University

Atlanta, GA 30322

Phone: (404) 727-7582

Fax: (404) 727-7471