"Dolphin-Safe" Tuna is No Longer Safe: Government Mandates False Labeling Regulations

'DOLPHIN-SAFE' LABEL REDEFINED
from Institute for Ag and Trade Policy <www.iatp.org>

On April 29, United States (US) Secretary of Commerce William Daley
weakened the standards for the 'Dolphin Safe' label that has been used
on tuna cans for the past decade. The new law will allow chasing and
setting of purse-seine nets on dolphins--a technique that was banned
under the old law. With the passage of the Dolphin Conservation Act in
1997, tuna could be labeled 'dolphin safe' as long as the Secretary of
Commerce determines that the fishing techniques linked to past dolphin
deaths did not cause significant adverse impacts on the dolphin
population. Secretary Daley announced the lowering of the standards,
claiming that the chasing and setting of purse-seine nets on dolphins
during tuna fishing operations does not cause significant adverse
impacts on dolphin populations. Observers on fishing boats are still
required to report if they observe killed or seriously injured
dolphins.

Since the introduction of the 'dolphin-safe' tuna program, dolphin
deaths have decreased 97% in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, the prime
location of tuna populations. US State Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
author of the dolphin safe labeling law, has publicly criticized the
weakening of the standards saying it will result in consumer confusion
regarding product labeling, and unnecessary harm to the dolphin
population. She notes that, "…in spite of this amazing success, the
Secretary of Commerce has determined that the chasing and encirclement
of dolphins is not harmful to dolphin populations." Congressman George
Miller stated, "I am concerned that scientific evidence does not appear
to justify the Commerce Secretary's decision to change the dolphin-safe
label. His decision may well subject dolphin populations to the exact
same kinds of harassment and injury that led to massive slaughter from
which they have not yet recovered. And equally important allowing a
change in the label will mislead consumers into believing no dolphins
were involved during the tuna harvesting."

"Boxer Says Commerce Department Decision Will Harm Dolphins," SENATOR
BARBARA BOXER PRESS RELEASE, April 29, 1999; "'Dolphin Safe' Label
Awarded," US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, May 10, 1999; "'Dolphin-Safe' Tuna
Label Gutted by US Commerce Secretary," HUMANE SOCIETY OF US, 1999;
"Miller Says Altering Dolphin Label Not Backed by Scientific Evidence,"
CONGRESSMAN GEORGE MILLER PRESS RELEASE, April 29, 1999; "New Standard
for Labeling Canned Tuna as 'Dolphin Safe' Stirs Disagreement,"
MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE, April 30, 1999.