From HUMANElines - www.hsus.org
On Tuesday (12/31) the Bush Administration announced
that it would weaken the requirements for tuna sold under the
�dolphin-safe� label.
The dolphin-safe label was originally created to
let consumers know whether tuna being sold was caught using methods that
endanger or kill dolphins. However, the newly-accepted rules will allow
the label to be used on tuna that was caught by dropping giant
purse-seine nets over schools of dolphins.
The decision flies in the
face of a recently-published government study linking the practice of
targeting dolphins by tuna fisheries to a drastic decline in dolphin
numbers. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
report shows, among other things, a clear decline in Pacific dolphin
populations to less than half their original numbers since the practice
began in the 1950�s.
According to HSUS� Kitty Block,
�This fishing
method would allow harming and even killing thousands of dolphins each
year in tuna nets . . . For the first time in over a decade,
dolphin-deadly tuna will be sold in the United States � and what makes
this so unconscionable is that this tuna will be misleadingly labeled
�dolphin safe�.�
In response to the decision, The HSUS and several other
environmental and animal protection groups have filed a lawsuit against
the Bush Administration and Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans. The HSUS
is also planning a massive public education campaign about the
misleading nature of the �dolphin safe� tuna label.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Let Secretary Evans know that his decision to weaken the dolphin-safe
tuna label is both cruel and hinges on consumer fraud. Ask him to take
action to rescind the dolphin-deadly decision at once.
Secretary Donald L. Evans
Office of the Secretary
Room 5516
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20230
Ph: 202-482-2000
Email:[email protected].
[Editor's note:
Find current elected officials here]
Go on to Ear
Infections and Dairy By Robert Cohen
Return to 5 January 2003 Issue
Return to Newsletters
** Fair Use Notice**
This document may contain copyrighted material, use of which has not been
specifically authorized by the copyright owners. I believe that this
not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the
copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your
own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.
