Following a lengthy campaign, international outcry and a pending lawsuit, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda announced on February 23rd, 2004 that it had voted to revoke the permits previously issued to Mr. John Mezzzanotte for the capture of twelve wild dolphins from Antiguan waters. The cabinet also tightened the conditions under which dolphins would be imported or exported from Antigua in the future.

This successful campaign was spearheaded by the Antigua and Barbuda Independent Tourism Promotion Corporation (ABITPC). ABITPC has been fighting these captures since 2001 when Dolphin Fantaseas first opened its captive dolphin facility in Antigua. Since that time, ABITPC has rallied the support of dolphin advocates worldwide and worked with the international media to keep this story on the front pages of newspapers around the globe, including the Miami Herald, The New York Times, The London Times and The London Observer. WSPA has been pleased to rally its members and lobby Prime Minister Bird in support of ABITPC's campaign and will continue to work with the group on dolphin issues in Antigua and beyond.

As part of its strategy to stop the dolphin captures and protect the delicate environment of Antigua and Barbuda, ABITPC hired prominent Antiguan lawyer John Eli Fuller to petition the government of its behalf. Presently, the case concerning the wrongful importation of three Cuban dolphins in 2001, which was in breach of the CITES treaty, is still pending and no decision has been made about whether or not to continue pursuing it in light of the cabinet's decision to rescind the capture permits.

Public Relations Officer, environmentalist and professional scuba diver Martha Watkins Gilkes had this to say concerning the cabinet's announcement, "We are pleased that the environment of Antigua and Barbuda will not be compromised by the removal our wild dolphins. We feel, and I have stated from the start of this saga, that the Government was sold a dirty and misleading "bill of goods" from foreigners who came to our island and want to exploit our marine resources for their own Personal financial gain with very little in it for Antigua and Barbuda."

Please take a moment to send a letter to commend the government of Antigua and Barbuda for its decision to revoke the capture permits given to Mr. Mezzanotte and encourage Prime Minister Bird to use his authority to protect dolphins and the precious resources of these Caribbean islands.

The Honorable Prime Minister Lester Bird
Queen Elizabeth Highway
Antigua, West Indies
Fax: 268-462-3225

Also, please send a copy of your letter via email to ABITPC at gilkesm@candw.ag.