Marine Connection continues to support calls to the government of Jamaica to withdraw their approval for the construction of a new captive dolphin facility near Puerto Seco beach after a permit was reportedly granted to the owners of another facility on the island Dolphin Cove, Ocho Rios.
We are deeply concerned that due process was not followed in this instance as no meeting was called to allow local residents and others the opportunity to speak out against these plans. There is fear that the waste created by the dolphins will create an ecological disaster in the bay, an area which contains coral and seagrass and has been designated a fish sanctuary. Swimmers using the Bay will also be exposed to bacteria caused by the build-up of waste created by the dolphins which, unable to be completely washed away into deeper water by the currents, will sink and collect at the bottom of the sea pens.
The authorities have stated that if it is proven that the water does become affected the permit will be rescinded, however by that time potentially irreversible damage will have been caused to the fragile marine environment – marine biologists have already stated that this could result in Discovery Bay becoming “a dead bay.”
With the dolphins reported arrival in the area this week, as the authorities have refused so far to listen to both local and international concerns the next step is court action.
