Swim-with-the-Dolphins in Antigua and Barbuda

Martha Watkins Gilkes

Antigua dolphin pens—closed by authorities.

The best news of all comes from Antigua. For several years, Dolphin Discovery (based in Mexico) operated a swim-with-the-dolphins facility here. A storm drain that carried overflow from an inland lagoon had been illegally blocked by the previous owners (Dolphin Fantaseas) to prevent runoff from entering the sea pens and affecting the dolphins' water quality. Dolphin Discovery left it blocked for the same reason, but in 2004 the lagoon overflowed and flooded several local businesses. Amid a great deal of controversy, and with support from The HSUS/HSI to send qualified inspectors to examine the water quality of the sea pens, the government finally succeeded in closing down the Dolphin Discovery facility, forcing Dolphin Discovery to send the dolphins to Tortola (where the company has another dolphinarium). The storm drain was then reopened. This is the first known case in the Caribbean where a dolphinarium, once established, has been closed down by government regulators for violation of the law. A small number of facilities had closed or failed previously due to bankruptcy or other financial woes, but this is the first known case where misbehavior on the part of the dolphinarium operators led to the closure.

Although there have been rumors that Dolphin Discovery would return to another location in Antigua, to date no construction activity has been observed on the island.