Shocking pictures have emerged from St Thomas, USVI today that show just how revolting the water gets where Coral World Ocean Park wants to put dolphins!
What you won’t see in the glossy travel brochure. Img:Supplied
In 2012 Coral World Ocean Park, an aquarium on the island of St Thomas, announced that it intended to construct a captive-dolphin interaction and breeding facility.
Heavy opposition from St Thomas residents and some of the world’s leading scientists and animal welfare experts was ignored, and the construction was given the green light in March. A permit issued by The Department of the Army stated “The facility will house up to 10 dolphins on a permanent basis and up to 18 animals on a temporary basis once operations (including a captive breeding program) are fully underway.”
Despite already being twice devastated by hurricanes, Trudie Prior, the private owner of the park, doesn’t seem to care that the dolphins (and people) she puts in her purpose built pens will be subjected to human effluent run off and other pollutants that accumulate in the bay-every time it rains. In fact, swimming is regularly banned in the bay and Coral World, itself is so dismal when it rains, that it even shuts down to the public.
Staff can leave when the weathers bad, the dolphins can’t!
The World Cetacean Alliance wrote twice to Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the USVI Commissioner of Tourism, in July 2018- asking her to intervene considering the ongoing issue of poor water quality in Water Bay where the animals will be housed. The WCA’s letter cited effluent run off, enterococci outbreaks, as well as the effects on marine life from a recent Sargassum seaweed explosion. It addressed the serious health and welfare concerns these things will present to introduced cetaceans and tourist swimmers alike. The WCA’s letter and concerns remain unanswered.
The murky contaminated water of Water Bay where dolphins will be swimming in effluent. Img:Supplied
“The introduction of a concentrated group of large marine mammals for commercial entertainment and breeding purposes in an already choking bay, presents an extensive list of other serious environmental concerns, along with a complex maze of regulatory inconsistencies already raised by some of the most highly regarded conservation groups from around the world.” ~WCA
Rubbish floats in the bay, the dolphin pen construction in the background. Img: Supplied
Filthy polluted water flows from the roads into the bay. Img:Supplied
Drainage from the street pours directly into the bay. Img:Supplied
These latest images are clear evidence that Coral World’s plans and the USVI government’s endorsement to put dolphins in this bay is a disaster waiting to happen.
It’s highly likely any introduced dolphins will not survive; the only question is which disaster will kill them? Stress-induced illness resulting from the unnatural entertainment they will be forced to provide for paying tourists for the rest of their lives? Death by injury from the inevitable hurricanes that will again one day impact St Thomas? Or will the dolphins, to be blunt, quite literally drown in shit.
This is not ok.
Please contact Beverly Nicolson-Doty bnnicholson@usvitourism.vi
Write to Trudie Prior at Coral World info@coralworldvi.com
You want to stick dolphins in that? Img:Supplied
Always Be Polite
Black Cove are a small group of independents who receive no funding and do not collect donations. We work on pure passion and drive. We speak on behalf of the dolphins and whales of the world.
* The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the original authors unless otherwise referenced.
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