SA: Dolphins used as bait again

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2001
SA: Dolphins used as bait again

ADELAIDE, Aug 17 AAP - The ugly and illegal practice of using dolphin meat as bait
to catch sharks has been exposed in South Australia.

But a delay in checking the stomach contents of a dead killer whale means those responsible
will probably never be caught.

The South Australian Museum today confirmed the remains of at least three dolphins
were found in the stomach of the young male killer whale which washed up on Emu beach
on Kangaroo Island.

But the dead whale was found in December, 1999 and because of a lack of resources the
stomach contents remained on ice until earlier this year when scientists began an examination.

They found the remains included flippers, bones and chunks of dolphin blubber along
with the skin from the head of a dolphin.

Closer examination revealed knife marks suggesting the remains were cut up by humans.

While it was possible the dolphin pieces were just discarded in the water, scientists
believed it was more likely they were used as bait for sharks or crayfish.

Museum spokeswoman Belinda Bocson said the authorities had been informed of the find
but because of the time delay it was almost impossible to tell where the dolphins had
come from and who had cut them up.

However she said the practice of using dolphin meat as bait was not unknown in SA.

In the early 1990s a number of fishermen appeared in court in SA charged with possessing
dolphin pieces for use as bait.

AAP tjd/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: DOLPHINS LEAD (PIC AVAILABLE)

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