Four stand trial in Bahrain for catching dolphins

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Four men are in the dock for catching dolphins from the territorial waters of Bahrain, which is illegal by law. The dolphins were for an entertainment facility that organises dolphin shows in the Kingdom for public viewing.

The suspects are to face trial in a competent court. Incidents leading the case occurred with the Public Prosecution kick-starting an investigation based on a notification received.

Coast Guard Command alerted prosecution officials that some dolphins were caught illegally from Bahraini waters. The officers said they had also traced the animals to a dolphin-show facility here.

During an inspection, they found three dolphins at the facility. They also accused the manager of the facility of the crime. Investigators soon conducted a raid at the facility accused of holding the dolphins.

They found that the facility that housed three dolphins at the time of the raid had none during an inspection held sixmonth back by the Supreme Council for Environment.

SCE also revealed issuing no licenses to the facility to import dolphins during the past six months. Based on the report, the Public Prosecution ordered the seizure of the boat used for hunting dolphins and vehicles used for transporting the mammals inland.

Police also referred four accused to a competent court. The trial in the case begins on 2 June 2021. Chief Prosecutor explained that it is illegal to hunt dolphin from the territorial waters of the Kingdom.

Bahrain’s constitution guarantees the protection of all-natural resources to ensure their sustainability and non-degradation.