The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The five surviving dolphins at an abandoned tourism project off New Providence’s northern coast have been moved to Atlantis - but the rescue has not been met with universal acclaim.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, in a statement, revealed on Friday that the five remaining dolphins previously housed at Blackbeard’s Cay were safely transferred to the Paradise Island mega resort’s animal care facility for medical treatment and care.

Action to save the five surviving dolphins - Fiona, Harry, Diamond, Justice and Pigeon - only occurred after The Bahamas was subjected to damaging media coverage that could have harmed its international reputation as a tourist destination.

The Dolphin Project, in an online posting detailing the captive dolphins’ plight, said the survivors had largely been abandoned and were living in poor conditions at the former Blackbeard’s Cay marine attraction where only one caretaker/trainer remains.

The venue shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, to-date, eight of the 13 dolphins have died with six fatalities alleged to have occurred in the 12 months to February 2024. The initial eight dolphins were imported from Honduras in 2014, while five of their offspring were born at Blackbeard’s Cay.

The Dolphin Project warned that The Bahamas could face a severe tourism backlash unless it saved the five surviving dolphins, with “thousands” purportedly voicing outrage and threatening never to return to this nation after it posted details about the earlier deaths of eight dolphins at the former Blackbeard’s Cay development, which is located on Balmoral Island opposite Sandals Royal Bahamian resort.

Ric O’Barry, the Dolphin Project’s founder, said the group was willing to rescue the survivors and ultimately transfer them to a purpose-built dolphin “sanctuary” that is fully equipped to cater to their needs at no cost, but had not received permission from the Government to do so.

Gail Woon, local marine biologist and former dolphin trainer, said she was in favour of Mr O’Barry’s Dolphin Project building a dolphin “sanctuary” in Eleuthera. She added that the five dolphins’ transfer to the Atlantis Animal Care Facility is a move “from the frying pan to the fire where they will never be freed and will have to ‘work’ for the rest of their sad lives.

“Not a happy ending at all,” she argued. “In captive situations, when the animals make a profit for a company, they will never be set free. They will die in small pens whereas, in the wild, they swim with three generations of their family up to 40 miles per day. They should have let Dolphin Project make a sanctuary here in Eleuthera. This is a huge public relations mistake by a bungling government.”

It has not been revealed how long the dolphins will be held at Atlantis. Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and marine resources, last week pledged that the Government is actively working to ensure the well-being of the remaining mammals at Blackbeard’s Cay.

He confirmed that Blackbeard’s Cay’s deterioration “stems from a much long-standing legal battle”. He said: “The general public recently became aware as to the conditions and status of the dolphins on Blackbeard’s Cay. However, from the ministry standpoint, we have been addressing this issue from April 19 even prior to the social media posts.

“It should be noted that this is a private facility that wasn’t always originally managed by the Government. And the whole scenario really stems from a much long-standing legal battle that dates back as far as 2017.”

The ownership of Blue Illusions’ was initially split 50/50 between foreign investors Samir Andrawos and Victoria Iglesias. However, the project ran into financial trouble following the COVID-19 enforced tourism shutdown and border closures, and both have seen separate personal bankruptcy trustees appointed over their financial affairs by the US courts after they were unable to repay loans they personally guaranteed.

However, Damian Gomez KC, former minister of state for legal affairs, successfully obtained a Bahamian Supreme Court order authorising him to seize and take over Mr Andrawos’ 50 percent Blue Illusions stake to recover an unpaid $1.25m legal bill owed by the former owner. This, though, is being challenged by Mr Andrawos’ bankruptcy trustee, sparking legal battles in both The Bahamas and the US.

The Dolphin Project said it has yet to receive the Government’s permission to step in and save the dolphins, adding that it would provide all the food, medicines and equipment needed to do so free of charge and at no cost to the Bahamian taxpayer.

Mr Campbell yesterday maintained that the Government would never “block or impede anything that’s positive”, but had to be “very careful” how it proceeds as it cannot appear to take sides in an active legal matter. He said: “Under no circumstance will the Government ever try to block or impede anything that’s positive, whether it relates to people or animals.

“But we have to remember that this entire scenario isn’t just a one-shot deal. It’s also involved with some legal issues that we have to be very careful, as the Government, how we move forward because the Government cannot be seen to be taking any side, especially with a matter that is still live with litigation.”