Category Archives: Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins

#QatarDeceit A Tweetstorm: Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research: STOP SPONSORING THE TAIJI DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER

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By Kirsten Massebeau

On September 1, 2013 the terrible dolphin drive made famous by the academy award-winning documentary “The Cove” began yet another season capturing and killing dolphins and small whales in Taiji, Japan. The Taiji Fisherman’s Union have made and agreement with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) not to slaughter bottlenose dolphins during the month of September. Buyers of the blood dolphins can then claim no blood was spilled for their collection. The WAZA agreement does not extend to other species. Between September 1st and September 17th 181 dolphins have been driven into the cove. of these 18 were captured (bottlenose), 31 slaughtered (pilot whales and 1 bottlenose dolphin). A total of 121 were released. Once September passes the WAZA agreement no longer applies.  Bottlenose dolphins unwanted for aquariums and marine park display will again be openly slaughtered.

On September 18, 2013 following several bloody days at the cove for pilot whales, and a constant transfer of young bottlenose dolphins for aquariums Op-Ed blogger Elizabeth Batt published a shocking article:“Op-Ed: Is NatGeo sponsoring company that purchases Taiji dolphins? Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research run by,  NEMO or Nerum LLC. They  announced on their Facebook page, “Good morning people, we are back with some exciting news, Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research is a proud to be sponsored by National Geographic!

After a Tweetstorm had been planned National Geographic came forward and made it clear that Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research had used the National Geographic logo without their permission and that they were not Dolphin Discovery & Research sponsors.

Qatar Dolphin Discovery has blocked U. S. Access to Their Facebook Page at this time

Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research Screen Shot Facebook U.S. Access now blocked.

Since the activities and involvement of Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Research have come to light the company has blocked U.S. access to their Facebook page. They continue to rant that they are saving the purchased dolphins from slaughter when in fact the capture and sale of bottlenose dolphins and a limited number of other species to the captive industry keeps the drive alive.“The drive hunters cannot sustain their business on dolphin meat sales – they must capture and sell dolphins to keep it thriving.  Captivity kills, and Taiji is proof of that premise”.

“Documentation shows that “Given that Nero/Nerum LLC has purchased dolphins captured from the inhumane Japanese dolphin drives”.

This CITES export permit dated Sep. 30, 2010, clearly shows that Nerum imported five male and one female Pacific bottlenose dolphins from Dolphin Base in Taiji, Japan.

Even more recently, just last May in fact, Nerum acquired another 20 Pacific Bottlenose from the same facility, as this CITES permit shows. The company accepted delivery of a further 16 female and 4 male Pacific bottlenose dolphins”(source).

Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research US Access now Blocked. Screen print taken in the UK.

“Training, training, getting ready and getting closer”. Qatar Dolphin Discovery Research US Access now Blocked. Screen print taken in the UK.

TWEETSTORM on September 25th to tell Qatar Dolphin Discovery & Researchwww.facebook.com/QatarDolphinDiscovery (link is not visible in USA) that dolphin slaughter is not acceptable and we will not stop until the slaughter and taking of dolphins into captivity stops!

TWEETSTORM TIME ANNOUNCER: ► http://bit.ly/14qyH50
COUNTDOWN TO TWEETSTORM: ► http://bit.ly/16eudlu

LIST OF PRE-MADE TWEETS will be available shortly before the tweetstorm.

Please support this important event by inviting your friends to join, many thanks !!

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What is a Tweetstorm? (translated in many languages on the bottom!)
www.globalfree.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/tweetstorms

 

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The Rare Maui’s Dolphins Need Your Tweets

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By Kirsten Massebeau

Known as the smallest, and rarest dolphins in the world the Maui’s Dolphins are facing extinction if extreme actions are not taken quickly by the New Zealand Government. Today less than 20 breeding females and a total population of 55 remain off the West Coast of New Zealand’s North Island. These shy dolphins swim in the shallow water making them vulnerable to legal fishing, illegal fishing (inside their protected area), and other human activities. Unless IWC recommendations are met, their protected area immediately expanded, and fishing practices restructured there is little chance of the Maui’s Dolphins surviving.

International Whaling Commission asks NZ Government to act now to save world s rarest dolphins! New Zealand’s Department of Conservation announced that the number of Maui’s dolphins over the age of one has reached a historical low of between 48-69 individuals, with a mostly likely point estimate of 55 New Zealand shamed over Maui’s inaction July 2013. The International Whaling Commission has asked the New Zealand government to ban set net and trawl fishing in all areas where Maui’s dolphins are found immediately.

Since 1970 when gillnet fishing first began the population has fallen 94%. Gillnets are walls of nylon mesh that are stretched for miles in the water. The nets are constructed of unbreakable nylon, and designed in such a way that ocean life once entangled cannot back out. Gillnets do not discriminate. All and any marine life can become entangled. For the Maui’s dolphins that has meant painful and slow drowning, as they are unable to free themselves to return to the surface for air. Trawlers known as the death ships are another threat to the Maui’s  as they indiscriminately drag the ocean floor killing anything caught in the huge moving net. The newest threat to these shallow water dolphins is seismic testing. Underwater explosions of air can reach levels of 230 decibels causing temporary and sometime permanent hearing loss that can result in death.

Barbara Maas of the Nabu Foundation For Nature has fought for the Hector’s and Maui’s a subspecies of the Hector’s dolphins for a decade believes ending gillnet fishing is not enough. Gillnets are only part of the problem:

Make no mistake that these beautiful dolphins are well on their way to doing a dodo, and the New Zealand government is well aware of this. ‘Unless something happens immediately, and the New Zealand Government takes notice, the only place you’ll find a Maui’s dolphin will be stuffed in a museum.

What can you do to help the Maui’s dolphins?

Join the worldwide online event a Tweetstorm for Maui’s dolphins August 8th at 7:00 AM EDT! People from all over the world are going to bring their Tweets together to spread awareness, expose the fish industry, and gain the attention of the New Zealand Government compelling them to take action for the Maui’s dolphins.

Until the New Zealand Government and corrupt fishing industry take action to save the Hector and Maui’s Dolphins do not purchase any seafood caught in New Zealand!

Your voice, your Tweet, is their only hope!

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