Proposal To Export 50 Dolphins

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The family of the late Dr. Baddley Anita, who is seeking more than $61 million in damages from the Government, is preparing a proposal to request a special permit from the Ministry of Fisheries to export 50 dolphins. Costs and fees from the export would be offset against the damages claim.

The Government had until October 6, 2025, yesterday to settle the $61.1 million in damages owed to the Anita family and their partners, following a High Court ruling on September 2.

The order stems from the October 29, 2016, raid on the Solomon Islands Marine Breeding Centre (SMBC) at Ranadi, which was carried out by officials from the Ministries of Fisheries, Environment, and Police. The raid led to the destruction of the facility and the arrest of the late Dr. Anita.

Acting on behalf of the family, lawyer Wilson Rano of Rano & Company Lawyers said:
“My clients and I are currently working on a proposal to ask the Fisheries for a special permit to export 50 dolphins and cost and fees are to be off-set from the claims.”

The export of dolphins has long been a controversial issue in the Solomon Islands, often drawing both national and international attention.

Sources within the Ministry of Fisheries say no proposals have been received so far but warn that any move to export dolphins could put the country’s multimillion-dollar tuna industry at risk. The tuna sector remains one of the government’s biggest revenue earners, bringing in around $300 million annually in access fees, with millions more generated through other schemes.