In the Nets That Is
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Dolphins Get Caught In the Nets That Is |
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It used to be that you could walk into a grocery store and be assured that the tuna you bought had not been caught in a mile-wide net that had been set on dolphins. But, as of 1999, that is no longer the case. More than 85 animal protection groups and countless grass-roots groups opposed this change. Disparagingly, Greenpeace, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund and Center for Marine Conservation supported it.
The "alleged" good that was to come out of these efforts was that by allowing foreign companies to sell to the U.S. and therefore get the dophin-safe label, international observers could be put on the boats. But, according to the ASPCA's Nancy Blaney, "These purse-seine nets are a mile wide and over 100 meters deep. Do you honestly thin an observer on the deck of a ship will be able to see a dead dolphin?"
When Congress originally passed legislation (in 1994) banning the import of tuna to the U.S. that wasn't dolphin safe, the effects were dramatic (last year 2,000 dolphins were killed by tuna fishermen, compared to about 133,000 in 1986. Even more annoying, the new agreement sets mortality rates to have a limit of 5,000 dolphins per year, which as you can see is 250% higher than the current number.
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What's a consumer to do. One option is to give up tuna completely. For those who must have it, the following companies have promised to buy and sell only tuna that is "truly" dolphin safe, despite Clinton and Congresses redefinition of the term: Starkist, Bumble Bee, Chicken of the Sea, Safeway stores, IGA stores, Disco stores, Subway sandwich shops, Wald Disney Co., Garden Fresh Restaurants, Long John Silver restaurants, Olive Garden restaurants, Carl's Junior restaurants, A&P supermarkets, Albertson's stores. For those feeling truly motivated, contact your local restaurants, supermarkets and ask them to join the pledge.
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