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US Action: Call your Senators: Ask them to support this legislation.
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For Immediate Release
December 7, 1995
Sierra Club Announces Support for Boxer-Biden
"International Dolphin Conservation Program Act"
Contact: Dan Seligman
(202) 675-2387
Maxine McCloskey
(301) 229-4967
Washington, DC...Sierra Club is pleased to announce its
whole-hearted support for the International Dolphin Conservation
Act introduced today by Senators Barbara Boxer and Joseph Biden.
The Boxer-Biden Dolphin Conservation Act marries conservation
principles with improved incentives to save dolphins in
international waters. This legislation keeps the current
definition of "dolphin safe" on the tuna fish sold in our grocery
stores. And it rewards foreign dolphin-safe tuna fishers by
opening the US market to their products.
"The dolphin-safe definition is the heart of US dolphin
conservation policy," said Maxine McCloskey of Sierra Club's
Biodiversity Committee. "The Boxer-Biden Bill upholds the
conservation principle that these beleaguered animals should not
be used as lures in the tuna fishery. Dolphins shouldn't be
chased and harassed on the high seas just to put tuna fish in our
lunchboxes."
"US dolphin-safe policies have been an international success
story," said Dan Seligman of Sierra Club's International Program.
"Dolphin deaths are down by 95 percent internationally. The
Boxer-Biden bill rewards good fishing practices by opening the US
market to responsible fishers."
"Boxer-Biden ensures continued progress," he added. "It
would cap dolphin kills near current levels and reduce the quota
until we get to zero."
Sierra Club opposes tuna-dolphin legislation introduced last
week by Senators Ted Stevens and John Breaux (S. 1420). "S. 1420
redefines the "dolphin-safe" label to allow chasing, harassing,
and setting nets on dolphins by tuna fishers if no dolphin deaths
are "observed". It abandons the goal of zero dolphin mortality,
allowing thousands of animals to be killed every year in
perpetuity, endangering the recovery of depleted populations.
And, it opens the US market to dolphin unsafe tuna," said
McCloskey.
"If the United States abandons our tough conservation
standard, tuna fishers won't have an incentive to try new
dolphin-safe fishing techniques," said Seligman. "Senators Boxer
and Biden have kept the faith with US consumers, with the
dolphin-safe tuna industry, and above all with the dolphins. We
urge quick passage of this responsible legislation," he
concluded.
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