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Defenders Magazine
Defenders in Action: Swimming for Her Country and for Wild Dolphins
When the world’s best swimmers take their marks in a few weeks, one Olympic hopeful may be representing not only the United States, but wild animals around the globe as well.
Twenty-two-year-old Amanda Beard, currently the world-record holder in the 200-meter breast stroke and a four-time Olympic medalist, is an ardent supporter of Defenders of Wildlife. Beard has a special affinity for dolphins—the gold-medal swimmers of the ocean—and has recorded public-service announcements on the “dolphin-safe” tuna issue that have reached more than 17 million television viewers.
“I have a special respect for and connection with these beautiful mammals and have always wanted to help save them,” says Beard, who, at press time, was preparing for the Olympic trials, and is expected to represent the United States in as many as four different swimming events in Athens. “By teaming up with Defenders of Wildlife and getting this powerful message out to the public, I feel we are making progress toward a safer environment for the dolphins.”
Because some schools of tuna swim directly below dolphins, fishermen in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean have chased the speedy marine mammals and set nets directly on top of them. Since the late 1950s, approximately seven million dolphins have died from this practice.
In an effort to stop this massive kill, Congress created the popular consumer labeling program for “dolphin-safe” tuna in 1990. Under this and a related program, tuna from several countries, including Mexico, was embargoed because of harmful fishing practices. Those countries appealed under new international trade rules and the U.S. government capitulated to the foreign commercial demands.
In 2002, the federal government announced that tuna caught by encircling dolphins with nets could be labeled “dolphin-safe” as long as an onboard observer claims that no dolphins were killed or seriously injured during the fishing. But, according to an internal agency e-mail made public in April, federal officials have known for years about allegations that observers in Mexico were regularly taking $10,000 bribes to say that the boats were not harming dolphins.
Defenders and other conservation groups are suing the federal government to prevent this misleading use of the “dolphin-safe” tuna label. At press time, Defenders was awaiting a decision on the case.
Visit www.savedolphins.org to learn more about the work that Defenders and Amanda Beard are doing to protect dolphins.
