Marine mammals regulations

I refer to the article "New marine mammals regulations criticised" (September 11).

The importation of the dolphins was made in accordance with Malta's obligations to the international conventions, and European Union legislation.

The dolphins in question (tursiops truncatus) are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which allows such species to be imported or exported according to the provisions of the convention.

The dolphins were imported in accordance with this convention and also in accordance with the obligations Malta has as an acceding country to the European Union.

One has to point out that the protection given by the regulations to the marine mammals found within Maltese territorial waters is the maximum protection such mammals can have in line with a number of international legal instruments.

These include those of the European Union, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention of the Council of Europe), the Convention of Migratory Species (Bonn Convention), and the Protocol concerning Special Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean, among others.

The regulations introduce stricter measures on the previous regulations for the protection of marine mammals found in Maltese territorial waters.

Moreover, it has to be noted that the dolphinarium importing these dolphins is already licensed to carry out such activity and no new licences have been approved.

The failure to import such dolphins could have resulted in putting the workers' future in jeopardy.