SENATE BILL 39 - The Dolphin-Death Act

URGENT! The House version of this bill (HR 408) was passed on May 21, 1997!

Dolphins are once again in jeopardy due to tuna fishing. Although populations of both spinner and spotted dolphins in the eastern Pacific Ocean are dwindling, the new dolphin-deadly U.S. House and Senate bills, H.R. 408 and S. 39, pose a real threat to these and other dolphin species. H.R. 408 was introduced by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and S. 39 was introduced by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK).

These bills would:

• redefine "dolphin-safe" to permit the chase, harassment, capture, and encirclement of dolphins so long as no dolphins are "observed" to be dead in the nets (this leads to higher incidents of injury and death).
• Sanctions the practice of chasing dolphins with speed boats and helicopters, separating nursing calves and their mothers, and injuring and killing these intelligent, remarkable mammals.
• promote consumer fraud by allowing the use of the "dolphin-safe" label on ALL tuna, regardless of whether the tuna was caught by chase and encirclement.
• allow the resumption of the sale of indisputably dolphin-deadly tuna in the United States.

Please urge your U.S. senators to broker a compromise bill that does not change the label or definition of dolphin-safe. U.S. laws protecting dolphins--and all animals--should not be sacrificed on the altar of free trade.

To see how to contact your senator, check the US Senate Directory

If you live in Oregon, contact:

Senator Ron Wyden
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
senator@wyden.senate.gov

Senator Gordon Smith
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997