Ocean Alert - Winter / Spring 1995.
A dolphin and yellowfin tuna swim together
The Winter/Spring 1995 Ocean Alert (formerly the Dolphin Alert) is an Earth Island Institute publication.
At a meeting in La Jolla, CA in October 1994, the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) let stand the international tuna fleet's dolphin kill level of 9,300 for 1995. The IATTC, an international commission established to manage tuna populations, has come under increased scrutiny recently over the tuna fishery's impact on dolphins.
EII Executive Director David Phillips called the IATTC move, "...a total cop-out. At a time when the total dolphin kill has been less than 4,000 in each of the past two years, the fact that the IATTC has set a kill quota of more than twice as high is absurd."
The US delegation to the IATTC wanted a 1995 quota of 4,000 but was rebuffed primarily by the delegation from Mexico, the largest remaining dolphin-killing country. All commission decisions must be made by consensus.
Fortunately, the US tuna fleet adheres to a stronger domestic law, the International Dolphin Conservation Act (IDCA), which severely limits the US fleet's dolphin kill. The IDCA calls for a descending quota eventually reaching zero by 1999 or earlier. Because the US fleet killed 114 dolphins in 1994, the maximum allowed for 1995 is 113. Regardless of the IATTC resolutions, the US fleet must comply with the requirements of the stronger and more effective IDCA. To date, no US tuna boats have applied to operate in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in 1995. This represents the first time since the late 1950s that no US tuna vessels are engaged in dolphin-unsafe fishing techniques.
Whether the international fleet will kill 9,300 dolphins this year is unknown. Mexico, Venezuela, and Vanuatu continue to use dolphin-unsafe fishing practices. Yet, of the 40 Mexican tuna purse seiners, 12 have shown the ability to fish dolphin-safe. Our staff will continue to press for an end to all encirclement of dolphins and for a reduction of the IATTC quota to zero.
Ocean Alert - Winter / Spring 1995.
http://www.earthisland.org/immp/immp4.html