The dolphin-safe label on tuna cans is important because it represents a proud national commitment to the environment and the conservation of our invaluable marine life. The Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP), extending from Hawaii to the coasts of the Americas, is a prime fishing area for U.S. tuna boats. Unfortunately, this region is also the habitat for three dolphin species whose populations are severely depleted: the northeastern offshore spotted, eastern spinner, and the coastal spotted. These species are currently at risk, due to environmentally unsound fishing practices that needlessly slaughter dolphins and other bycatch in the process of harvesting tuna.

Dolphins, spinners in particular, frequently accompany schools of yellowfin tuna, a profitable food species. It is likely that dolphins and tuna mutually benefit from this partnership; the dolphins’ echolocation aids the tuna in pursuing prey, while the dolphins can easily detect predators when the tuna becomes agitated. Since they periodically surface to breathe air, dolphins swimming above the tuna are conspicuous to fishermen. In boats and helicopters, fishermen track the dolphin pods in order to locate yellowfin schools. For up to hours at a time, dolphins and tuna are chased inside a mile-long circular net known as a purse seine. When the fishermen close, or "purse," the bottom of the net to collect the fish, dolphins that become entangled in the mesh are often killed or injured. Since the advent of purse seining in 1959, over 7 million dolphins have been victims of irresponsible tuna fishing.

Fortunately, this inhumane procedure, known as dolphin-setting, generates fierce public concern and continues to alarm Americans. San Francisco biologist Sam LaBudde was among the first to publicize the cruel reality of dolphin-setting: in 1988, he enlisted as a cook on a Panama tuna boat, where he captured footage of 200 dolphin deaths. During the 1980’s, the American people responded with tuna boycotts-even students appealed to their school boards and refused to keep tuna on the school menus.

Due to the efforts of active citizens, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972) and Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (1990) were passed to promote marine mammal conservation, reduce and possibly eliminate dolphin mortalities, and alert consumers to the tuna issue. The Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act created the enormously popular "dolphin-safe" label, which identifies tuna that was not caught in association with dolphins. Furthermore, the act placed an embargo on foreign tuna that did not meet the dolphin safety requirements-protecting dolphins as well as U.S. consumers.

Clearly, dolphin conservation is a topic of great importance to individuals and organizations across the U.S. StarKist, Bumble Bee, and Chicken of the Sea are the three major companies that comprise 90% of the U.S. tuna industry. They agreed in 1990 to market only dolphin-safe tuna and dutifully adhered to their pledge, in spite of recent proposals to change the label. Other large businesses, including Safeway, Wal-Mart, and Food Lion, uphold these standards.

In the past four years, the integrity of the dolphin-safe label has been threatened-and with alterations of the label, the future of rare dolphin species is in jeopardy. Mexico, interested in exporting to the U.S., was among the nations affected by the tuna embargo; Mexican fishing vessels not only harvest the most yellowfin tuna but harm the most dolphins and violate the procedures of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. After Mexico issued a protest to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and won exemption from U.S. environmental laws, the dolphin-safe label was in danger of being undermined in the interests of free trade. Instead of requiring that no dolphins be harassed or ensnared in the process of fishing, the label would signify only that an on-board observer witnessed no dolphin deaths.

Realistically, there is still significant danger for dolphins in the ETP. The system of dolphin observers is appallingly flawed, since many foreign fishermen remove dead dolphins from the catch before they can be observed, and others bribe or threaten the observers. Dolphins that do escape tuna nets often suffer serious injuries, maimed beaks and fins, internal damage, or prolonged stress. Mothers are often separated from their highly dependent calves, and repeated harassment-several "sets" on the same dolphin pods-disturbs socialization and reproduction. If dolphins are to thrive and replenish their populations, the dolphin-safe label cannot be compromised for the gain of foreign trade. The pressure of politics should not weaken the power of the logo that consumers have come to respect and trust.

To conserve the dolphins that are such vital members of the marine community, Americans must understand the dolphin-safe label from every point of view. As consumers, we must evaluate the authenticity of the tuna label; to alter its provisions is to deceive Americans who intend to buy only environmentally-friendly products. As citizens of the earth, we must recognize the permanent, positive impact of dolphin protection on the world’s oceans. Behind the formalities of international trade, a greater crisis threatens the wildlife with whom we share the planet.

Sincerely,

Charlotte S.
Clifton, VA