OSLO, Norway (12 May 2002) -- In a move reminiscent of Japan's so-called "scientific whaling", Norway's pro-whaling government has granted permission to scientists to gun down dolphins in the north Atlantic. Conservationists prevented a similar attempt last year and have vowed to fight the government again. Norway claims the killings will help scientists learn more about the diet of Atlantic white-sided and white-beaked species. But Sue Fisher, of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS), told CDNN the research is just an excuse to blame dolphins for falling fish stocks. "It is not acceptable--these kills will be horrible and cruel," said Fisher. "It is a cover for securing some dolphin meat for fishermen and the ridiculous claim that dolphins are out-competing humans for fish." Asmund Bjordal, a government research director at Norway's Institute for Marine Research which will carry out the "study", denied Fisher's allegations but when asked if the decline in fish stocks resulted from over-fishing, he answered that predation by sea mammals was one of the primary causes. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum | | ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN - Lagenorhynchus acutus | This is a highly gregarious species, occasionally being sighted in groups of up to 1,000. Subspecies - None. Life span - Unknown. Statistics - Body length: 1.9-2.5m, Weight: 165-200kg. Physical Description Atlantic white-sided dolphins have a black/dark upper surface, grey flank stripe, white patch below the fin, yellowish patch on tail stock, and a white underside. They also have a tall dorsal fin. Distribution Atlantic white-sided dolphins inhabit the north Atlantic and Arctic oceans, in cold temperate and polar regions. Diet Atlantic white-sided dolphins feed on fish, squid and prawns. Behaviour Atlantic white-sided dolphin live in groups of 5-50 (although up to 1,000 has been reported) and are often seen in the company of other species. Conservaton status They are not listed by the IUCN. Global threats include hunting by Norway, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Labrador, prey depletion, pollution and entanglement in nets. |
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