Is Chinese trawler out to capture dolphins for shows?
A wall of silence continues to surround a trawler moored in a Namibian port which may be involved in a plan to capture endangered whales and dolphins in local waters.
The controversial Chinese trawler, Ryazanovka , is currently refuelling and storing fuel supplies at Walvis Bay’s main port after being named in some reports as the vessel that will be used to capture and transport live and endangered marine mammals to Chinese aquariums.
Meanwhile, the Namibian fisheries ministry has not yet made it known if a permit has been granted or denied to the Chinese company, Welwitschia Aquatic and Wildlife Scientific Research.
The company put in a request several months ago to export a number of internationally listed vulnerable wild dolphins, whales and African penguins, among other species, to Chinese aquariums using the trawler, Ryazanovka.
