The tuna‐dolphin controversy in the eastern pacific ocean: Biological, economic, and political impacts

Abstract

Since 1959 several million dolphins have been killed in the purse‐seine fishery for tunas in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Through combined efforts of the nations whose vessels participate in this fishery, annual dolphin mortality in the fishery was reduced from about 350,000 animals during the 1960s to about 15,000 animals in 1992. In 1993 10 nations implemented an international program to progressively reduce this mortality even further, with a goal of eventually eliminating it. During 1993, the first year of the program, it appears that dolphin mortality will be less than 4000 animals. An alternative program, which would impose a moratorium on fishing for tunas associated with dolphins beginning in 1994, has been proposed. Controversy concerning the practicality and effects of the two programs centers around the morality of fishing for tunas associated with dolphins and the biological, economic, and political impacts of each program.