Animal rights groups have condemned the governments of the Solomon Islands and Dubai for approving the trade of live dolphins. A Solomon Islands company flew 28 live dolphins to Dubai last night after winning a court battle overturning a ban on the trade.
Since the court case the Solomon's Government has increased support for the trade and a high level delegation is in Dubai for the dolphins arrival.
The Humane Society's Nicola Beynon says it is not a sustainable method of economic development and is incredibly cruel.
"The dolphins are going to be cargoed for up to 30 hours out of their natural habitat, that's going to place enormous stress on them," she said.
"There have already been reports that some of the dolphins have died."
The planes arrived in Honiara as the Solomon Islands High Court threw out an attempt by an environmentalist to block the deal.
Lawrence Makili, of the Earth Island Institute, says the court ruled that he did not have enough evidence to hear his application for an injunction.
But he told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the courts have agreed to hear a civil case brought by himself and local landowners against the exporters.
Mr Makili believes the lack of research in the Solomon Islands has hurt the appeal bid but says dolphin exports do not comply with international conservation.
"There was never a scientific survey done in this country to determine the population in the world, because any application of such an issue you have to have a management plan in place," he said.
"In this case in Solomon Islands, we don't have this data in place at the moment so that really concerns the environmental community worldwide.
"And despite the fact that we're trying to advise the Government, especially the minister that they have to look at this issue very carefully, they still decided to go ahead." © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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