From the New South Wales Parliament 1981

Page 2078.

*1225 Mr Moore asked the Minister for Planning and Environment -

(1) Is the minimum diameter pool required for dolphins in captivity under the United States Marine Mammals Protection Act 17 metres?

(2) Is the critical factor in assessing whether dolphin pools are adequate for the exercise of the mammals the horizontal lineal diameter rather than the volume of water involved?

(3) At what locations are dolphins confined in New South Wales in circumstances where the 17 metre minimum scientifically accepted diameter is not observed?

(4) What action will be taken to rectify this position?

Answer--

(1) It is my understanding that the United States Marine Mammals Protection Act specifies the minimum diameter pool required for dolphins in captivity as 17 metres.

(2) It is a reasonable assumption.

(3) The African Lion Safari dolphinarium at Warragamba.

(4) The National Parks and Wildlife Service has arranged for a conference to be held in the last week of May to discuss recent legislation in the United States and draft legislation in Western Australia on standards for keeping dolphins, as well as current problems recently brought to the attention of the Service in relation to the keeping of dolphins in captivity.

Experts in this field have been invited to attend and the aim of the conference is to determine standards for keeping of these animals, that can be applied as licence conditions, if such are granted for dolphinariums in New South Wales.

In the interim, as I have recently announced no further permits for the capture of dolphins for the purpose of exhibition will be issued.

*1226. Mr. Moore asked the Minister for Planning and Environment--

(1) What locations in New South Wales are licensed for the purposes of keeping dolphins in captivity?

(2) What has been the numbers of dolphins kept at each such location since 1972?

(3) (i) How many dolphins have died at each such location since 1972 until January 1981 and (ii) what was the cause of death in each case?

Answer--

(1) (a) King Neptune's Park, Port Macquarie.

(b) Pet Porpoise Pool Pty Ltd, Coffs Harbour.

(c) African Lion Safari, Warragamba.

(2) 10, 8, 11.

(3) (a) (i) 6 (ii) Two refused to eat; one unknown; one died of an obstruction to the airway; one of old age; one to ulceration (a stranded specimen).

(b) (i) 5 (ii) One died in pregnancy; one from a viral invection; one from an injury to the spine; one from a twisted bowel, one from a foreign object.

(c)(i) 8 (ii) One died by drowning (calf); one choked; one from orchitis; one from perotinitis and septicaemia; four unknown.

*1227. Mr. Moor asked the Minister for Planning and Environment --

What standards are imposed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service on the chemical control of artificial sea water used at any location where dolphins are kept in captivity in New South Wales?

Answer --

At present there are no standards imposed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service for the chemical control of artificial sea water. A conference on the keeping of dolphins in captivity, to be held by the Service in late May, will consider matters such as this.

*1230. Mr Moore asked the Minister fro Planning and Environment --

(1) How many infant dolphins have been born in captivity in New South Wales since 1972?

(2) With respect to each such birth, what is the condition of the offspring as at the 30th of December 1981?

Answer --

(1) 2

(2) One animal, born in 1979, was still alive and healthy aged 16 months at 30 March, 1981. The other, born in 1980, died by drowing shortly after birth.

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