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WDCS attended The Ocean Life Symposium sponsored by the Eastern Caribbean Coalition for Environmental Awareness (ECCEA) and the Pew Environment Group, in coordination with UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Program from March 23-25th, 2009 at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica. This Symposium covered topics and issues ranging from marine protected areas and whale watching, to whaling and captivity. Local challenges to Dominica were addressed, such as the growing problem of lime and gravel quarries and their role in the sedimentation of fragile coastlines, as well as managing sustainable ecotourism products, such as whale watching and programs featuring cultural diversity. Most significantly, the meeting was privileged to be addressed by the Prime Minister of Dominica, the Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit who affirmed Dominica’s pro-conservation stance taken last year, and assured the meeting that the government of Dominica would not support whaling, reaffirming the commitment of his administration not to attend the International Whaling Commission meeting in June in Madeira at which Dominica had, for years, been an outspoken supporter of Japan. WDCS was deeply moved by the very strong and unequivocal language used by the Prime Minister, and in particular his statement that the Government is “a strong supporter of the conservation and preservation of the environment and will not renege on that commitment of staying clear of voting for whaling”. We were particularly encouraged by the Prime Minister’s assertion that he took the decision he believed to be in the best national interest of Dominica and that neither he, nor his government, would be “going back on that decision”. Other recommendations that resulted from the Symposium included, among others:
* The recognition that scientific research has demonstrated that whales consumption of fish is not the cause of problems confronting fisheries management, neither in the Caribbean nor across the globe, and that hence the continued efforts to blame whales for fisheries problems are merely a distraction from the important efforts to resolve these problems and should cease;
* The acknowledgement that live capture of dolphins for captivity is a threat to wild dolphin populations, and the recommendation that Dominica implement legislation to prevent the captures of dolphins in Dominican waters, and their holding in captivity;
* The recommendation that governments in the region consider supporting the development of alternative income earning activities for persons currently involved in the lethal use of cetaceans.
* The acknowledgement of the need for consultation with and full involvement of local communities to ensure success of desired approaches set out in the recommendations;
* The recommendation that the government of Dominica join other countries of the region in their efforts of regional cooperation by becoming a contracting party to the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) and the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land Based Sources and Activities (LBS).
* The recommendation that cooperative regimes be established across the islands for further development of conservation and sustainable non-lethal use of cetaceans. Several recommendations involved marine mammal and cetacean protected areas in the region including the recommendation that other Eastern Caribbean countries take measures in parallel with the AGOA whale sanctuary of the French West Indies and to participate in assessment opportunities of the status of cetaceans in the Caribbean; twinning between the Silver Banks sanctuary of the Dominican Republic and AGOA of the French West Indies; and extension of the new sanctuary in the Dominican Republic to make it an international sanctuary. Courtney Vail, Director of WDCS’s Caribbean Program, stated: “The critical role and leadership that Dominica plays in the eastern Caribbean cannot be overstated. We applaud the strength and conviction of Prime Minister Skerrit in making the choices that are in the best interests of his people, as well as in the best interests of whales and dolphins. His commitment will have a positive impact not only in the Region, but worldwide.” WDCS offers it congratulations and thanks to the Prime Minister of Dominica for his commitment to the whales and their environment in holding firm to his decision to not attend the forthcoming IWC meeting in Madeira in June, thereby breaking from a block of eastern Caribbean countries who vote in favor of whaling under the influence of fisheries aid from Japan. Please send a note of thanks to the Prime Minister of Dominica at [email protected] for his continuing commitment to whales and their environment, or by mail to: Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Social Security and National Security
Office of the Prime Minister
6th Floor, Financial Centre, Kennedy Avenue
Roseau, Dominica
Tel: 767-266-3300
Fax: 767-448-8960 | 
