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RESOLiTtION NO. 93-181 A .. RBsOLuTIOH OF THB BOARD OF COUNTY . CQMMISSIONBRS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, ·FLoRIDA~ REQUESTING THAT DOLPHINS BE DECLARED . A VALUABLE RESOURCE IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA AND PROVIDING PROTECTION FROM CAPTURE; PROVIDING FOR COPIES OF THB RESOLUTION TO BE SENT TO STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, dolphins have a high mortality rate in captivity; :. and WHEREAS, nearly half of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in the world's aquariums are captured from Florida waters; and WHEREAS, seventy-five (75) Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have been captured from the Indian River Lagoon since 1972, the year of passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act; and WHEREAS, current population estimates place the entire Indian River Lagoon Atlantic bottlenose dolphin population at only two hundred (200) to three hundred (300) dolphins; and WHEREAS, the National Marine Fisheries Service does not verify compliance of foreign facilities who claim to meet the standards of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act; and WHEREAS, it is estimated that half of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin population died during the epidemic between 1987-1989; and WHEREAS, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners realizes that Atlantic bottlenose dolphins may migrate outside the jurisdictional waters of Indian River County; and WHEREAS, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners wishes to express its desire that dolphins be protected from capture and exploitation except for responsible and qualified scientific research to allow for the enjoyment of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins by future generations: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, that: 1. The Board of County Commissioners requests of all government officials and representatives, as well as regulatory agencies, and commissioners, that dolphins be declared a valuable resource in Indian River County, Florida, and removal from their natural environment be forbidden except for responsible and qualified scientific research, and that the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 be strengthened to provide dolphins protection to the fullest extent possible. 2. The Executive Aide to the Board of County Commissioners is hereby directed to send certified copies of this resolution to United States Senator Robert Graham, United States Senator Connie Mack, United States Congressman James Bacchus, Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, Florida State Senator Patsy Kurth, Florida State Representative Charles Sembler, National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Commission and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.