Contact: Mark J. Palmer, (415) 788-3666 x139
Clinton Trade Policy Risks a Dolphin-Killing Bloodbath!
Earth Island Institute has joined Defenders of Wildlife and a
number of other environmental and animal welfare organizations and
individuals in filing a second lawsuit challenging the Clinton
Administration's efforts to weaken U.S. dolphin protection laws.
"Here they go again, selling out on one of our most
cherished environmental protection laws in order to give in to trade
bureaucrats of the World Trade Organization," stated David Phillips,
Director of Earth Island Institute's International Marine Mammal Project.
"Just a few short months after Seattle, the Clinton Administration has
continued a shameful legacy of ignoring environmental concerns when dealing with trade issues."
The new lawsuit, filed yesterday in the Court of International
Trade in New York, demonstrates that the new Dept. of Commerce federal
regulations designed to allow import of dolphin-deadly tuna into the U.S.
are seriously flawed and violate Congressional mandates.
For example, under the new regulations, contrary to law, foreign
tuna fleets can kill 5,000 dolphins annually, and even more under "special
circumstances," without ever reducing dolphin deaths to levels approaching
zero, as called for in the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The lawsuit seeks to prevent the lifting of tuna embargoes against
countries, such as Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia, which still allow the
chasing, injuring, netting and killing of thousands of dolphins annually in order to catch the tuna which swim beneath.
In August 1999, Earth Island Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, and
other groups filed a separate dolphin lawsuit, charging the Secretary of
Commerce was arbitrary and capricious in allowing the standards for
labeling tuna as "dolphin safe" to be seriously weakened. That lawsuit is
well underway in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
VIDEO AVAILABLE: Broadcast quality video footage by Samuel LaBudde
of the devastating effects of tuna nets on dolphins is available by calling Earth Island (415) 788-3666.
For further information, contact Earth Island Institute's
International Marine Mammal Project, (415) 788-3666 or
marinemammal@earthisland.org.
