Atlantis, a hotel chain famous for their captive "swim with the dolphins" series of exhibits, has possible plans in the works to include such an exhibit at their newest choice of location: Ko Olina, in Oahu, Hawaii, United States. (sources:Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project: End Dolphin captivity in Hawaii​; Plans for $2B Atlantis aquarium resort being finalized at Ko Olina)

According to the article, "Captive mammals can net big profits for exhibitors newspaper", in the newspaper entitled The Sun-Sentinal:

"A South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigation found that everyone involved benefits, from Third World fishermen who catch dolphins, to the Cuban government that sells them and cash-poor Caribbean nations that win tourists because of them, to marine parks that can collect $50 or more for every visitor.

Dolphins and whales have become so valuable that parks can use them as collateral for loans. They're worth money even dead, bringing their owners million-dollar life insurance payouts. Facilities write heartfelt obituaries that can bring in sympathy letters and donations."

(Source: Captive mammals can net big profits for exhibitors)

What happens to those whales and dolphins in captivity? The Sun-Sentinel follows up in their article "Sickness and death can plague marine mammals at parks":

"Federal inspectors have cited eight marine parks, zoos and aquariums for water quality problems in the past three years, records show.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium has been unable to find the right chemical balance in its dolphin tanks for more than two years. Parks commonly use chlorine to disinfect animal wastes and other chemicals to maintain a balance of alkalinity/acidity, just as in backyard pools.

Animals suffer burning eyes, inflamed skin and can even die from fluctuating or excessive chemicals.

In 2001, U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector and veterinarian Sylvia Taylor found potentially "alarming'' pH levels, a measure of water acidity, at the Clearwater Aquarium. About three months later, Sunset Sam, a dolphin kept there from the time he was found stranded in Tampa Bay in 1984, died."

(Source: Sickness and death can plague marine mammals at parks)

Please, join us as we call out to Governor David Ige, the Governor of Hawaii, to expand and enforce Maui's landmark 2002 policy declaration to ban the public display of captive dolphins and whales! Please, before more innocent dolphins are captured, forced into captivity, put on display, and potentially worse! 

(Source: Wild Dolphin Days Tenth Anniversary)

Thank you so sincerely, 

Jennifer Falsetta and David Harrison Greis