Hello MARMAM members:

I have just returned from a three-day visit to the Republic of Panama.  For the past two years or so, a company called Ocean Embassy (www.oceanembassy.com and see press release below) has been seeking permission of the Panamanian government to build a resort featuring captive dolphins and to stock this dolphinarium with dolphins captured from local waters (from both sides of the isthmus).  If you would like to see the original proposal or other materials related to this situation, I would be happy to send them to anyone on request.

I am posting to MARMAM because, in my opinion, Ocean Embassy is misrepresenting several conservation, science, and education concepts as part of its marketing strategy.  For example, the proposal is to capture dolphins before any population surveys are completed.  (Panama’s coastal waters have never been surveyed for dolphin abundance.)  The proposal states that initially 28 dolphins will be captured – I was present when an Ocean Embassy representative stated that this number is now 18 – and a quota of 80 dolphins has been established for the following five years.  A research program is set to begin after the initial captures occur (and the quota of 80 will be taken while abundance surveys are on-going) and only one Caribbean dolphin population will be studied at all (in the Bocas del Toro region), although dolphins will be captured on the Pacific side. This plan is presented in Ocean Embassy’s materials as “precautionary” and the captures and a planned captive breeding program as “essential to the study of this species.”  Ocean Embassy rhetoric even implies that captive breeding is a mandatory element of any dolphin conservation program in the Caribbean (see the press release re: the SPAW Protocol).  I also heard the same Ocean Embassy representative state that capturing dolphins before doing research was necessary to establish a “control group,” although a control for what was not made clear.

No mention is made in the proposal of plans to conduct international trade in these animals, but the proposed quota (as many as 80 dolphins over five years) and the plans for captive breeding suggest strongly that this is the ultimate intention.

I am appalled at the misrepresentation of scientific and conservation concepts currently taking place in Panama.  In the 14 years I have been working in the field of marine mammal protection advocacy, I have never seen quite such an egregious and propagandistic misuse of science and conservation to sell this type of business development plan.  I think purely as a matter of principle, regardless of one’s position on captivity or capture, marine mammal biologists should speak out against this project.  If companies like Ocean Embassy can masquerade as research and conservation organizations with impunity, when they not only are just business ventures but are actually perverting scientific, conservation, and management principles to further their own commercial interests, then we can hardly expect governments to continue to respect and heed legitimate science.  If there is a growing number of politicians and decision-makers who are dismissive of legitimate science, then some of the blame must rest with scientists who don’t think they should get involved in politically charged or controversial issues.

I would like to call on anyone on MARMAM who is equally appalled at this situation to write letters to the president of Panama (who so far supports Ocean Embassy and its proposal), to clarify for him that the manner in which Ocean Embassy represents science and conservation is inconsistent with that of the international marine mammal science, conservation, and management communities.  He needs to hear this from many quarters, but particularly from independent researchers – to date, calls for a proper scientific basis for quotas, which are coming from the environmental and animal protection communities, are being dismissed as “radical” and “self-serving”.  During my visit to Panama, my concerns were summarily dismissed by Ocean Embassy, and I myself was characterized as someone who “calls herself an expert on dolphins, but has no experience working with dolphins.  She has never held a baby dolphin, nor worked with adult dolphins.  She has never studied dolphins, conducted research on dolphins, nor rescued injured or stranded dolphins.” [My Spanish is rudimentary, but I think I have the gist; however, I would be happy to provide anyone with the original Spanish version of this statement, which was distributed at an Ocean Embassy press conference in Panama City on March 6, 2007.]

If you are interested in additional information on this situation and/or in writing a letter to the government of Panama, please email me.  Again, I am not asking for letters protesting captivity or even capture – I am asking for letters offering the decision-makers in Panama a description of genuine concepts of science, conservation, and sustainable management of marine mammal resources, instead of the twisted, counterfeit version being offered by Ocean Embassy.

The following is the English press release from Ocean Embassy (dated January 29, 2007), announcing the approval of the plan to build a dolphinarium in San Carlos, Panama (near Panama City).  To clarify, a permit to capture dolphins has not yet been issued.

COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR DOLPHINS
BEGINS IN PANAMA

Panama City, Panama--(January 29, 2007) - Panama will become the first country in Central America, and one of the few in the world, to launch a comprehensive marine mammal conservation strategy.  Ocean Embassy Panama, a marine life park under construction in Playa Corona, San Carlos will be a significant contributor in these efforts to protect Panama’s marine resources. 

The strategy includes extensive field research and multi-level educational programs which will be undertaken to assess Panama’s wild dolphins, to provide care for sick and injured animals and to engage the public with new knowledge, according to Ocean Embassy Panama (OEP) President, Robin Friday. 

Ocean Embassy’s marine mammal experts and independent scientists will conduct a five-year research study on the abundance, travel patterns, and health parameters of dolphins along both coasts of Panama.  According to OEP veterinarian Dr. Rene Varela, “Our studies will provide an accurate assessment of wild marine mammal health and the condition of the marine environment in which they exist.  Performed over a long period of time, this study will create a comprehensive view of environmental and ecosystem health of Panama’s coastal areas. From these findings, OEP will reap a wealth of important data to be shared with scientists, wildlife officials, universities and government agencies in Panama and all over the world.

Successful breeding programs are one of the primary objectives of most respected zoos and aquariums in the world.  Part of OEP’s conservation strategy is to establish a dolphin breeding program that is essential, among other things, to study this species that is so popular worldwide. Zoological breeding programs have saved more than 19 animal species from extinction, such as the California condor (large bird of prey), China’s panda and Brazil’s golden lion tamarin (small primate), among others.

 As a major component of its conservation plan, OEP has requested permission to initiate its research objectives with a broad sampling of wild dolphins. Ninety-six percent of the animals will be evaluated at sea.  The remaining animals, considered a “precautionary quota,” will experience uncompromised enriching care in a spacious and pristine habitat as part of OEP’s research and educational programs. Each set of animals serves as unique and important contributors to the understanding of Panama bottlenose dolphin health. 

 According to OEP President, Friday, “We have the ideal team of professional marine life conservationists to carry out our plans.  Not only do we have the skills and experience to provide the best care for animals -- we save animals.  Over the last 30 years, our experts have provided assistance to hundreds of sick and injured wildlife around the world.”

 OEP identified Panama as the ideal location to launch its new generation of marine “embassy” and education programs, due to Panama’s will and proven commitment to responsibly manage the marine environment and establish strict environmental regulations, stated Friday.

By acknowledging OEP’s conservation strategy, Panama is implementing one of the most important provisions of the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol, of which Panama is a signatory.  According to Article 10 of the SPAW Protocol, “Each Party shall formulate and adopt policies and plans for the management of captive breeding of protected fauna (animals) and propagation of protected flora (plants).”  OEP’s research programs respond to this provision and others within this Protocol.

In conclusion, Friday states, “working with a government that wants its people to direct their interest towards the sea and pay special attention to its oceans, we have the opportunity to create one of the most integrated conservation strategies in the world.  Panamanians will be the majority of our team and will be significant contributors in the development of these new endeavors.  We are determined to become a new and active voice for the protection and understanding of the environment.”

 ###

OEP’s concepts and projects are designed to be progressive, multi-faceted and invested in four core areas: 
1) independent critical conservation programs in the local area;
2) uncompromised care for our animals including innovative and holistic environments; 
3) economic growth through employment, service contracts and tourist development; and
4) effective marine educational programs.