Costa Rica, 2005: The government of Costa Rica approves a law that prohibits keeping dolphins and whales in captivity. The law also bans swimming with these marine mammals in either captive or wild settings.

Nicaragua, 2003: The Government of Nicaragua formalizes measures to ban the use of dolphins for commercial purposes.

Panama, 2003: The Panamanian Congress's Environmental Commission unanimously approves a measure to prohibit wild animal displays and the capture of dolphins.

Dominican Republic, 2003: The country's National Academy of Sciences joins a lawsuit against the government for granting permits to capture dolphins in a marine sanctuary. This case is ongoing. For the first time, the government requests drafting of dolphin care requirements by a scientific body.

Costa Rica, 2002: President Abel Pacheco signs into law a bill to ban any wild animal acts, such as circuses and marine shows, from the country.

United States, 2002: Maui, Hawaii approves measure to ban any displays of captive marine mammals. This move is hailed by the whale and dolphin watching industry and ecotourism community.

Nicaragua, 2002: Government officials' confiscate two dolphins due to animal welfare concerns and permit irregularities. The dolphins are released back into their home waters.

Mexico, 2001: The Secretary of Environment enacts an emergency moratorium on all dolphin captures as a response to the controversy in Baja.

Guatemala, 2001: Guatemala environmental officials confiscate two dolphins abandoned by their trainers. The animals are rehabilitated and successfully released. The legislature is now working on a bill to prohibit future dolphin captures.

Chile, 1999: The Fisheries Authority forbids the capture of dolphins from Chilean seas.

Australia, 1994: The territory of Queensland bans the capture of dolphins.

Hungary, 1992: Hungary closes its only dolphinarium and prohibits any future dolphin imports.

Canada, 1992: Canadian Government ceases to grant permits for the capture of cetaceans in national waters.

United States, 1992: The State of South Carolina becomes the first in the nation to prohibit the capture and display of cetaceans.

Scotland, 1991: Scotland is one of Europe's primary tourism destinations for whale and dolphin watching.

Argentina, early 1990s: The premature deaths of 12 dolphins prompt authorities to suspend any future imports of dolphins into the country.

United Kingdom, 1990: The U.K. enacts the strictest standards in the world for captive marine mammal welfare. The last dolphinarium closes in 1993.

United States, 1989: The U.S. marine animal display industry begins a self-imposed moratorium on all captures of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

Australia, 1985: Australia imposes a ban on the display of cetaceans.