OCEAN ADVENTURE GAINS CUSTODIAN RIGHTS OVER STRANDED DOLPHINS

SUBIC BAY – Last Saturday, July 18, 2015 a historic event took place at Ocean Adventure, the open water marine park in Subic Bay where its representatives and the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN), along with the Regional Directors of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Offices 1 and 3 signed a Memorandum of Agreement granting custodial rights to Ocean Adventure for rehabilitated and stranded dolphins deemed un-releasable. Of the animals covered in this MOA are 3 dolphins known as the “dynamite girls” as they are victims of dynamite fishing which has left them with significant hearing impairment. Because of that, they are unable to survive in the wild, and will now enjoy a safe permanent home at Ocean Adventure.

Ten (10) years ago Ocean Adventure partnered with BFAR to form the PMMSN as the national organization to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sick and injured whales, dolphins, and dugongs. The PMMSN now has over 3,000 trained BFAR personnel and stakeholders around the country, over 60 veterinarians trained in their medical treatment, and recorded over 620 stranding events to their credit. Ocean Adventure has responded to 58 of those stranding, and operates the only rehabilitation facility in the country – the Dolphin Rescue Center.