A Long Day
by Alexandra
February 27th, 2007
Monday, February 25
7 AM: I am heading to Panama this morning from Costa Rica to see what is happening with the proposal to capture wild dolphins for captive display. I am very concerned that the government will go ahead and approve this petition in spite of expert opinion recommending that it be suspended.
Randy Wells, a conservation biologist at the Chicago Zoological Society and a world recognized expert on dolphins who has been at the forefront of dolphin research for the past several decades, had this to say about the proposal by Ocean Embassy:
“I understand that Ocean Embassy Panama plans to collect bottlenose dolphins from the waters of Panama. Based on 37 years of research with dolphins in Florida and elsewhere, I am strongly opposed to the removal of dolphins from the wild, especially in the absence of adequate assessments of the wild populations, including their structure, abundance, vital rates, and factors affecting them, prior to the collections. Since 1970, we have been monitoring five generations of bottlenose dolphins that live in a year-round resident community in Sarasota Bay, Florida. We have found indications that disruption of the community through losses/removals can adversely impact the animals remaining in the wild, through decreased reproductive success and disruptions of the social structure (Wells 2000, 2003).
The Chicago Zoological Society and partner institutions ceased collecting bottlenose dolphins from the wild decades ago in favor of cooperative captive breeding programs involving dolphins already living in zoological parks and aquaria. These programs have been very successful, and they represent much more appropriate efforts toward effective conservation of dolphins than removal from the wild. I would expect more of a new dolphin program in Panama than to implement an out-dated and biologically-unsound program of collection from the wild.”
3 PM: I have a meeting with the mayor of Panama who seems to be very concerned about the proposal to catch wild dolphins for the captive industry. The mayor, Juan Carlos Navarro, has a colorful past as an avid environmentalist-most notably as the founder of ANCON (a Panamanian NGO for conservation). We talked about the project for a ling time and I am surprised at how vehemently he opposes the project and how enthusiastic he is to support us. To be honest, I couldn’t be more thrilled! We need an ally in the government and he seems more than happy to be the one. There is a press conference after our meeting and he makes his position clear to the media. “I will oppose this on ethical grounds! We will not let American businessmen pillage the resources of the country for profit!” And it seems the people agree with him since 82% of the population is “against taking wild dolphins for captivity.” I look forward to seeing how this all works out…
6PM: I have been granted a meeting with the directors of the Autoridad de Recursos Acuaticos de Panama-the new agency in charge of managing Panama’s aquatic resources. It was a very enlightening meeting and I better understand their concerns from a socio-economic perspective and their hopes that the Ocean Embassy project will breathe new life into their economy and help them address poverty issues. I have seen coastal communities in Panama and the struggles of the poor and I hope to one day be able to help them in really meaningful ways. I really understand the government’s desire to find solutions to address these issues but made it clear that I could not, in good conscience, support the construction of a dolphinarium as a solution. We discussed it at length and agreed to disagree on the merits of the Ocean Embassy proposal with a view to collaborate on other projects in the future. I am relieved that they understand my position on this issue-my opposition to capturing wild dolphins for captive display-and that we can maintain a productive relationship in spite of it.
12 AM: I have been awake for 19 hours and am going to bed! I’ll let you know what the next couple of days bring.
Signing off for the night.
February 27th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Hello Alexandra,
Just to let you know that I am close behind you. Please do keep me updated on this issue. I am very fond of dolphins, and I do prefer seeing them in the wild than in water parks.
And Philippe, thanks for letting me know my French was good =) I would hope so… Or else my ex-French teacher would not be pleased… lol
Have a great day both of you =D
February 27th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Thanks for the update! It gave me a better understanding of the current situation in Panama. It breaks my heart to hear of their poverty and overall quality of life. I can see why the government will begin to think of ways to increase economic activity and social life. But I wish they gave more environmental consideration and notice that the financial contribution of nature’s service will create a negative impact on the environment. It is a shame they see a dolphin park to be one of its solutions. When did two wrongs make a right?
February 28th, 2007 at 1:57 am
I have a tendency to agree with Marianna from her response on 2-24 that Panama has many other possiblites to enrich their economy. If it is tourism that they seek it would make sense to seek it from a more economically sound country such as the U.S. That being the case it would be almost foolish to build a facility and fill it with dolphins, because Americans already have access to those types of facilities here in the states. It would behoove them to find another form of tourism that was more unique to Panama in order to bring into their economy outside sources. Just a thought.
February 28th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Aclaración pública sobre los mamÃferos marinos.
Los medios de comunicación social han divulgado
noticias y comentarios, a favor y/o en contra, de la captura de mamÃferos marinos para cautiverio. Algunos de los protagonistas de estas informaciones son ambientalistas, los cuales tienen a su haber el reconocimiento de la sociedad, debido a sus ejecutorias como promotores y defensores del equilibrio ecológico, sin el cual no podrÃamos vivir.
Dentro de este escenario se han difundido
interrogantes sobre las facultades legales de la
Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá con
respecto a la ordenación de la recolecta de mamÃferos marinos para el cautiverio, por lo que es nuestro deber hacer las aclaraciones correspondientes.
La Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá
(ARAP), creada por la Ley No. 44 de 23 de noviembre de 2006, es el Ente Rector de estos recursos en la República de Panamá, los cuales se subclasifican en acuÃcolas, pesqueros y marinocosteros, y entre sus facultades se halla el normar las medidas y los procesos técnicos y administrativos para el aprovechamiento racional, sostenible y responsable de los precitados recursos, a fin de proteger el patrimonio acuático nacional y de coadyuvar en la
protección del ambiente.
El Administrador General de la Autoridad de los
Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP) no ha incurrido ni incurrirá en extralimitación de funciones públicas al emitir resoluciones administrativas relativas a la ordenación de los recursos acuáticos entre los que se hallan los mamÃferos marinos.
La Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá
(ARAP), para el mejor ejercicio de sus funciones,
necesita del apoyo de todos los estamentos sociales dentro del contexto del respeto y una polÃtica de puertas abiertas. Sin embargo, esta Autoridad está subordinada a lo dispuesto en el Ordenamiento Positivo Vigente, y a los valores espirituales, morales y cÃvicos de la Nación Panameña.
La Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá
(ARAP) promueve y potencia las iniciativas y esfuerzos para que los mamÃferos marinos dejen de ser vÃctimas de actos atroces y de pescas incidentales, que son hechos que globalmente corresponden a cifras desproporcionadas, asà como también contribuye al derecho humano al desarrollo declarándole la guerra a
la pobreza y al hambre que colocan en peligro de
extinción al principal recurso del ambiente que son los seres humanos.
La Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá
(ARAP), mediante la Resolución ADM/ARAP No. 02 de 29 de enero de 2007, estableció un procedimiento
administrativo, que no existÃa previamente, para
normar el otorgamiento de permisos de recolecta de
mamÃferos marinos para cautiverio, adecuándose a lo dispuesto en el Régimen Ecológico de la Constitución PolÃtica, la Ley que crea esta Autoridad, la Ley que establece el Corredor Marino de Panamá y al Acuerdo de
Excepciones de Captura del Comité Directivo del
Corredor Marino de Panamá.
El artÃculo 14 de la Ley 13 de 5 de mayo de 2005, que estableció el Corredor Marino de Panamá, permite la captura de mamÃferos marinos en las aguas jurisdiccionales de la República de Panamá para cautiverio en base a las excepciones que disponga el Comité Directivo del Corredor Marino de Panamá, las cuales fueron aprobadas mediante Acuerdo de este Comité del dÃa 18 de enero de 2007, por lo que la Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá (ARAP) tiene el deber legal y constitucional de darle trámite a toda petición.
La Ley 13 de 2005 en ninguna de sus partes dispone que el cautiverio de los mamÃferos marinos sea por tiempos cortos, sino más bien que dentro de las aguas marinas se proteja y se conserven estos recursos promoviendo la investigación, avistamiento, recreación, educación, terapia a campo abierto, concienciación ambiental y vigilancia ciudadana.
La Ley 13 de 2005 delimita que el Corredor Marino de Panamá está compuesto por las aguas marinas de la República de Panamá que, de acuerdo a la Convención del Derecho del Mar, están conformadas por el mar territorial, la zona contigua y la zona económica exclusiva de la República de Panamá.
La Resolución ADM/ARAP No. 02 de 29 de enero de 2007 claramente preceptúa que los permisos de recolecta de mamÃferos marinos y el cautiverio de éstos mantendrán en todo tiempo el requisito insoslayable del cumplimiento de lo dispuesto en el Derecho Internacional, la Constitución PolÃtica, el Ordenamiento Positivo Vigente, las Normativas de la Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá, las Órdenes de Autoridades Competentes y los Acuerdos del Comité Directivo del Corredor Marino de Panamá.
La Resolución ADM/ARAP No. 02 de 29 de enero de 2007 consagra que los mamÃferos marinos recolectados en aguas jurisdiccionales de la República de Panamá siempre serán patrimonio de la Nación Panameña, y no son ni serán objeto de aprovechamiento alimenticio, muerte, exterminio, tratos crueles y/o exportación. Además, esta Resolución sienta un régimen de sanciones
en caso de incumplimiento de las normas jurÃdicas
vigentes, el cual consiste en la cancelación del
permiso, sin menoscabo de las responsabilidades
administrativas, penales y civiles correspondientes.
Ciudad de Panamá, 27 de febrero de 2007.
Licenciado Gabriel D’Annunzio RosanÃa Villaverde
Cédula 3-108-74 / Idoneidad 4311
Abogado de la Autoridad de los Recursos Acuáticos de
Panamá
February 28th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I do not know when and if Panama has been hit by a hurricane, but certainly it could happen. I can assure you that after going through and seeing the destruction of our Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina that it is a terrible idea to keep marine mammals and other aquatic organisms in an “enclosure” - especially with no emergency plans in place for evacuations and/or extra back-up generators at these marine parks. They are exposed to all the elements and it is wrong and dangerous for them. When we take animals out of their natural enviroments and put them in enclosed, human-made conditions, then we are responsible for everything about that animal’s welfare - including safety and evacuation if possible during emergencies. Out in the wild, those animals can escape from a hurricane. In an enclosure, they might not have a chance.
February 28th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Hello again!
I´m so glad that are other people in our side!
Even the population is with us! That´s just great!
I know that they have to find a way to help their people, but that´s so not the way to do that!!!
And, if I may say, I think that´s kind of an excuse of the government to do that. ´Cause in the end they just end up doing nothing they´ve promised before.
I just hope that´s not the case here.
And I understand that marine animals captured in the Panama´s water belong to Panama, but that does not mean they can do whatever they want with it!!!
Animals are part of NATURE in the first place!
Well, I´m waiting to hear more good news.
March 18th, 2007 at 3:06 am
[...] earthecho.org 1 earthecho.org 2 [...]
March 29th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I don’t fully understand that one comment in spanish but i see the adress for an important governmnt agency so I’ll translate it into english:
Public explanation on the marine mammals.
The social mass media have divulged news and comments, to favor and/or in against, of the capture of marine mammals for captivity. Some of the protagonists of these informations are environmentalists, which have to their there to be the recognition of the company, due to their achievements as the developers and defenders of the ecological balance, without which we would not be able to live.
Inside this setting they have been diffused questioning on the legal faculties of the Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama with regard to the ordering of it collects of marine mammals for the captivity, for which is ours
should do the corresponding explanations.
The Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP), created by the Law Not. 44 of November 23, 2006, is the Principal Entity of these resources in the Republic of Panama, which itself subclasifican in acuÃcolas, fishing and marinocosteros, and among its faculties is found the to establish norms for the measures and the administrative and technical processes for the aprovechamiento rational, sustainable and responsible for the precitados resources, to end To protect the national aquatic patrimony and to contribute in the protection of the environment.
The General Administrator of the Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP) has not incurred neither he will incur in abuse of civil service al to emit administrative resolutions relating to the ordering of the aquatic resources among the ones that the marine mammals are found.
The Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP), for the best exercise of its functions, needs the support of all the social classes inside the context of the respect and a politics of open doors. Nevertheless, this Authority is subordinate to the arranged thing in the Positive Code in force, and to the civic, moral, and spiritual values of the Panamanian Nation.
The Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP) promotes and power the initiatives and efforts so that the marine mammals to stop being victims of atrocious acts and of incidental fishing, that are facts that globally correspond to disproportionate figures, as well as also contributes al human right al development declaring him the war to the poverty and al hunger that place in danger of extinction al main resource of the environment They are the
human beings.
The Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP), by means of the Resolution ADM/ARAP Not. 02 of January 29, 2007, established an administrative procedure, that did not exist previously, to establish norms for the granting of permission of collects of marine mammals for captivity, being adapted to the arranged
thing in the Ecological State of the Political Constitution, the Law that creates this Authority, the Law that establishes the Marine Runner of Panama and Capture Exceptions agreement of the Executive Committee of the Marine Runner of Panama.
The article 14 of the Law 13 of May 5, 2005, that established the Marine Runner of Panama, permits the capture of marine mammals in the territorial waters of the Republic of Panama for captivity in base to the exceptions that arrange the Executive Committee of the Marine Runner of Panama, which were approved by means of Agreement of this Committee of the day January 18, 2007, by The Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama (ARAP) has the constitutional and legal duty to give him procedure to every petition.
The Law 13 of 2005 in none of their parts directs that the captivity of the marine mammals be for times short, but rather than inside of the marine water be protected and these resources promoting they be conserved the investigation, sight, recreation, education, therapy to open field, environmental consciousness raising and civic caution.
The Law 13 of 2005 delimits that the Marine Runner of Panama is composed by the marine water of the Republic of Panama that, according to the Convention of the Right of the Sea, they are conformed by the territorial sea, the adjacent zone and the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Panama.
The Resolution ADM/ARAP Not. 02 of January 29, 2007 clearly preceptúa that the permission of collects of marine mammals and the captivity of these they will maintain in every time the unavoidable requirement of the fulfillment of the arranged thing in the international law, the Political Constitution, the Positive Code in force, the Regulations of the Authority of the Aquatic Resources of Panama, the Orders of Competent Authorities and the Agreements Of the Marine Runner of Panama.
The Resolution ADM/ARAP Not. 02 of January 29, 2007 consecrates that the marine mammals collected in territorial waters of the Republic of Panama will always be patrimony of the Panamanian Nation, and they are not neither they will be object of aprovechamiento alimentary, death, extermination, cruel deals and/or export. Besides, this Resolution sits down a state of sanctions in case of breach of the legal norms in force, which consists of the cancellation of the permission, without lessening of the penal, administrative responsibilities
and corresponding civilians.
City of Panama, February 27, 2007.
Licensed Gabriel D’ Annunzio RosanÃa Villaverde Decree 3-108-74 / Suitability 4311 Lawyer of the Authority of
the Aquatic Resources of Panama
March 29th, 2007 at 8:40 am
and for my own comment:
I googled “panama government wild dolphins”
all over the place pop-ups of them taking wild dolphins for captivity for amusment of tourists. It’s insane, and cruel. Do we really need to be entertained by some flips that bad, that people are willing to kill these precious animals? NO, No, & NO! and what can we do to make people traveling to panama aware of the situation?
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Which I must say, is not always the case after fighting. ,