'Dolphin Darth Vadar' in remission

SOLOMON Islands villagers and a notorious dolphin "slave trader" have agreed to stop hunting and harvesting dolphins for the lucrative international dolphin trade.

The Solomons began selling bottlenose dolphins in 2003. Since then it's come under fire over the legality and sustainability of the trade, along with concerns for the captured animals' welfare.

In 2007, 28 Solomons' dolphins were sent to a Dubai resort amid protests from environment groups and criticisms from the Australian and New Zealand governments.

Solomons locals and their government shrug-off the opposition saying their cultural traditions allow the live trade to aquariums or hotels in Mexico or Singapore.

But last week, the Fanalei and Walande communities in south Malaita, Malaita province, ended hundreds of years of tradition by signing an agreement to stop dolphin harvesting for two years.

The announcement came as "dolphin Darth Vader", Canadian Chris Porter, said he now wanted to release Solomons dolphins rather than sell them.

The change of heart, according to the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, came after a whale he trained recently killed a female SeaWorld trainer in Orlando, Florida.

"I have decided to release the remaining animals back to the wild," he said.

"I'm disillusioned with the industry.

"When I got there (to the Solomons) a dolphin was worth $20, and last year dolphins were worth $140,000," Porter told the paper.

Fanalei representative Joseph Wane said dolphins were no longer necessary for traditional purposes like money.

"In today's society not everyone uses dolphin teeth to pay for a bride.

"Normally our people accept money instead of dolphin teeth.

"So while our culture is still there to practice, it is also high time to collectively make efforts to conserve dolphins," he said.

The Solomon Star newspaper reported Walande community representative Moffat Suiga as saying his community would immediately stop harvesting dolphins and Michael Toling Kirio from Bita'ama community saying they also wanted to join the deal.

"We believe that we must change for a better," Kirio said.

Environment group Earth Island Institute led by Lawrence Makili said the project benefited all families in the two communities.

"We will receive no benefit from this but to conserve (dolphins) for the betterment of this nation," he said.

The dolphin trade ban and Porter's decision has angered some Solomons villagers.

In an open letter to the Solomons Prime Minister Derek Sikua and other top officials, 12 village leaders called on dolphin activists to be immediately deported.

"You are not wanted or welcomed in any of our communities.

"These people are a threat to our culture, tradition, heritage and security," they write about Makili, Porter and other dolphin lovers.