Dolphinaria and Marine Parks (Hansard, 1 July 1986)

§ Mr. Waldegrave

I have now studied the report commissioned by my Department last September from Dr. Margaret Klinowska at the University of Cambridge. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

Dr. Klinowska's report is based on a thorough examination of past and present practices at United Kingdom dolphinaria, and she has taken evidence from over 150 organisations and individuals. I accept her two main conclusions: that dolphinaria can continue to be permitted, provided that there are major improvements in virtually all areas, including accommodation, captive breeding programmes, the co-ordination of research and the quality of education provided by cetacean displays; and that my Department should not permit further imports of cetaceans until these new standards have been met.

My Department will establish a steering group (including a representative of the Nature Conservancy 462W Council) to consider the report's detailed recommendations. The steering group will seek co-operation from the operators of dolphinaria, and from other bodies whose help will be needed, particularly in trying to establish co-ordinated programmes for captive breeding and research.

The operators and other interested bodies will be invited to comment on the detailed recommendations by the end of August, and we will be seeking programmes for each dolphinaria by the end of November to show how and when the required improvements will me made. This will guide the Department in decising whether or not further exemptions for commercial display under article 6 of the EC CITES regulation (3626/82) can be granted after 1 January 1987. I expect the main preparations for implementation to have been completed by the end of this year. Operators will be given a maximum of five years to meet the new basic standards for existing animals, and a further five years after that to make additional improvements.