NDP'S LIBBY DAVIES TO TABLE MOTION TO BAN THE TRADE OF MARINE MAMMALS

OTTAWA - NDP MP Libby Davies will table a private member's motion in the House of Commons on Monday calling for an immediate ban on the live-capture and trade of whales and dolphins.

"The government has chosen not to regulate the trade of marine mammals, and facilities in Canada have become warehouses for whales and dolphins that are earmarked for captivity in aquariums across the continent," Ms. Davies, MP for Vancouver East, said.

Also of concern is the practice of so-called "whale laundering". Marine parks and aquaria in other countries can use Canada's lax system as loophole to get around their tougher laws. For example, the US can capture animals from a third country and house them in facilities in Canada like Marineland. The animals are then quickly shipped across the border, bypassing tough American legislation regulating the capture of marine mammals for captivity.

"The goals of my bill are modest but important," Ms. Davies said. "We want the Minister to impose an immediate ban on this trade to allow time for experts to study the issue more thoroughly.

"Ultimately, Canada needs a long-term policy covering the trade and captivity of marine mammals."

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans did commission a scientific study,but Minister Herb Dhaliwal chose not to act on any of the recommendations.

In 1998 Dr. Jon Lien, a marine mammal scientist from Memorial University in Newfoundland, conducted a review of marine mammals in captivity. He concluded that, "new live-captures and imports [of whales and dolphins] should not be permitted for the time being."

Brian McHattie of Zoocheck Canada has been fighting for 11 years to get the government to take some action.

"The DFO Minister has been sitting on the Lien report for two years now," Mr. McHattie said. "We want him to finally act on it, but in spite of thousands of letters his office has received on this we can't even get the Minister to meet with us."

Ms. Davies motion has the support of both Zoocheck Canada and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

For more information, please call: (613) 992-6030

BACKGROUNDER ON MOTION M-75

Motion M-75 (to be debated 30 March 2001):

That, in the opinion of this House, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should decree an immediate moratorium on the live-capture and trade of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises).

Why this motion?

Canada has chosen not to regulate the import, export, and inter- provincial trade in marine mammals, or to regulate their breeding in captivity. This lack of legislation stands in sharp contrast to other countries, including the United States, which have tough legislation regulating marine mammals in captivity.

As a result, Canada is a convenient site for "whale laundering".

How does whale laundering work?

Some countries like the United States have tough legislation governing the capture of marine mammals for captivity. To avoid these rules, the US facilities can capture animals in a third country (Russia for example) and house them in facilities here in Canada. After the animals stay here for a short time they can then be brought into the US. This process allows US marine facilities to bypass tough American legislation and avoid public scrutiny. Marineland and the Vancouver Acquarium have servied in this capacity in the past.

Who would be affected by the moratorium?

There are currently three aquariums in Canada featuring captive whales and dolphins: the Vancouver Aquarium, West Edmonton Mall, and Marineland of Canada in Niagra Falls.

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Research

In 1998 the DFO commissioned Dr. Jon Lien, a respected marine mammal scientist from Memorial University in Newfoundland, to examine the practice of live-capture and captive maintenance of marine mammals in Canada. Dr. Lien not only called for a ban on new live-capture and imports, but also called on a moratorium on the captive maintenance of marine mammals.

Although the Minister Dhaliwal has had this report for two years he has chosen not to act on the recommendations of Dr. Lien.

Time for Action

The quality of life of marine mammals in captivity is very different from their natural habitat. From being a far-ranging, deep-diving constantly moving creature, a captive whale becomes essentially a sedentary animal, spending most of its time at the surface swimming in circles around a small concrete tank. In some cases, such as Marineland of Canada, this has meant keeping an adult orca in a 25' diameter tank for long periods of time with nothing to do but float motionless at the surface.

By not acting on Dr. Lien's recommendations, the Canadian government has been complicit in the import of 18 whales into Canada since May 1999. Two of these animals have already died and there is nothing preventing the future export of whales and dolphins from facilities like Marineland to other facilities around the world.

-----------

Sample Letter to the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

In April, 1999, your department received a commissioned report from noted marine mammal scientist, Dr. Jon Lien from Memorial University in Newfoundland. In noting that Canadians care deeply about whales and dolphins, Dr. Lien unequivocally concludes that"until the deficits which exist in the practice and regulation of captive maintenance are addressed, there should be a moratorium on captive maintenance of marine mammals in Canada. Arrangements for animals presently held should meet recommendations in this review, but new live-captures or imports should not be permitted for the time being".

In not acting on Dr. Lien's clear recommendation, the Canadian government has been complicit in the import of 18 whales into Canada since May 1999, the deaths of two beluga whales so far, and possibly the future export of whales and dolphins from Marineland in Niagara falls to other facilities in Canada and around the world.

We urge you to take action on M.P. Libby Davies' private members' motion by enacting an immediate moratorium on the live-capture and trade of cetaceans.

1. Libby Davies, MP Vancouver East 483 West Block House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Ph. (613) 992-6030 Fax (613) 995-7412 Email: Libby Davies <daviel@parl.gc.ca>

The Minister’s address is as follows:

1. The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal Room 121 East Block House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Ph. (613) 995-7052 Fax (613) 995-2962 Email: Herb Dhaliwal <dhalih@parl.gc.ca>

You may also want to email your letter to opposition party spokespersons for Fisheries and Oceans. Here’s how you get in touch with them:

1. Alliance Critic: John Cummins 548 Confederation Building House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Ph. (613) 992-2957 Fax (613) 992-3589 Email: John Cummins <Cummins.J@parl.gc.ca>
2. Bloc Quebecois: Suzanne Tremblay 635-S Centre Block House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Ph. (613) 992-5302 Fax (613) 996-8298 Email: Suzanne Tremblay <Tremblay.S@parl.gc.ca>
3. Conservative: Gerald Keddy 141 Confederation Building House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Ph. (613) 996-0877 Fax (613) 996-0878 Email: Gerald Keddy <Keddy.G@parl.gc.ca>
4. New Democrat: Peter Stoffer 368 Confederation Building House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Ph. (613) 995-5822 Fax (613) 996-9655 Email: Peter Stoffer <Stoffer.P@parl.gc.ca>

That's it!