(12/07/1995) - Defenders of Wildlife today expressed support for legislation introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Joseph Biden (D-DE), that will maintain strong protections for dolphins and dolphin-safe tuna for American consumers. Defenders also reiterated its opposition to Senator Ted Stevens' Dolphin bill, S.1420, that removes critical protections for dolphins and reverses the popular U.S. dolphin-safe tuna program.

William Snape, Legal Director for Defenders of Wildlife, said today, "We support the Boxer/Biden dolphin legislation because it protects both dolphins and consumers. Those who continue to sacrifice marine conservation in favor of free trade politics will now be exposed."

Defenders supports the Boxer/Biden bill because it: a) would maintain the current and strong U.S. dolphin protection law; b) would keep the existing strong definition of dolphin-safe tuna; and c) would require that no fishing nets be set on dolphin stocks determined to be biologically depleted. Senators Boxer and Biden are the authors of the original dolphin-safe tuna labeling law.

Defenders opposes the Stevens bill, S.1420, because it would remove critical protections for Dolphins. The proposed bill: a) would set dolphin killing quotas for the U.S. and foreign fishing fleets; b) lift present embargoes against dolphin-unsafe tuna; and c) change the definition of "dolphin-safe" in order to allow for the chase and harassment of dolphins.

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Contact(s):

Cat Lazaroff, (202) 772-3270