A controversial proposed interactive dolphin attraction at Coral World Marine Park came closer to fruition Monday, when the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Planning voted to send a Coastal Zone Management permit and lease amendment on to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
Coral World officials and proponents of the plan pointed to the potential to bring more business to St. Thomas, give cruise passengers more reason to come and hopefully make Coral World successful and profitable.
Opponents raised concerns about potentially harming water quality and about the morality of having animals in captivity.
The CZM permit request, first submitted in April 2012, called for the construction of a two-acre dolphin habitat supported by concrete pilings and stainless steel mesh that would serve as the pen’s walls. Plans also call for a medical facility, a birthing and breeding area and to a movable platform allowing visitors of all ages and disabilities to interact with the mammals.
CZM gave its approval in February, then approved some amendments in May. Now the Legislature must weigh in.
Coral World General Manager Trudie Prior estimated the dolphin exhibit will draw an additional 25,000 to 35,000 visitor per year, add at least 25 new jobs, and contribute more than $4 million to the territory’s economy.
CZM Director Jean-Pierre Oriol described the permit and amended lease and said CZM recommends approval.
The rent will not change from the current $20,000 per year as the dolphin habitat will not occupy additional submerged land, due to a trade of shallower submerged land for deeper. Rent is to increase every five years by 10 percent per year after which Coral World is to pay one percent of gross revenues in addition to the foregoing rental amount.
There is an array of water testing and other requirements on the lease, which will determine if the dolphin exhibit can be expanded beyond an initial six animals, or must be kept small or eliminated.
DPNR also executed an amendment to the lease, swapping out one section of submerged land included in the original lease for an equal sized, deeper, adjacent submerged parcel that is deep enough for Coral World’s plans.
Lisa Hamilton, president of the V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association, testified in support, urging approval.
"The USVI faces stiff competition from other destinations. Coral World’s new attraction will provide a much needed boost to our tourism product," Hamilton testified. "Claims that tourists will avoid the USVI if we have a dolphin attraction simply do not hold up in light of the numbers of people flocking to dolphin facilities around the world.
“Based on information provided by Coral World, we understand that annually thousands of cruise ship passengers and overnight guests board ferries to Tortola to swim with dolphins. The monies these visitors spend enrich the BVI and do nothing for businesses or the government in the USVI," she said.
The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association has told the V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association "again and again that our tourist product is old. We need something new. We need this," Hamilton said.
Sen. Sammuel Sanes said he had concerns about the potential environmental impact of the project and whether Coral World would be more profitable afterwards, but said he also understood "the need for it."
"A few years ago, sea lions were the big ticket at Coral World and it failed … Coral World has remained unprofitable," Sanes said, asking how this would be different.
Prior responded that Coral World is a large operation and the sea lion exhibit just a small portion of it. "By themselves (the sea lions) are the most successful portion of Coral World," and the biggest revenue generator, she said.
St. Thomas resident Brent Leerdam spoke in support of the dolphin exhibit plans, saying Coral World has a good track record with the environment, takes huge numbers of local students on educational tours and "is undoubtedly the largest, biggest revenue-generating tourist attraction in the territory."
Resident Rita De Ferrari testified in opposition, saying the dolphins would be captured from the wild and suffer terribly as a result, and the water quality would suffer.
"It is not possible to fulfill the demand for captive dolphins from captive dolphins (breeding). It just is not," De Ferrari said.
Coral World Curator of Exhibits Lee Kellar testified that this is untrue and he would be purchasing dolphins raised in captivity in the United States at great expense.
Residents John Bremer, Fiona Stuart and Caroline Brown also spoke in opposition, all citing general concerns that the water quality and environment may be degraded.
Oriol and Amy Dempsey of environmental testing company Bio Impact both testified that tests and studies and their research indicate that the impact of the dolphin exhibit will be negligible and overwhelmed by the runoff that occurs around that area now.
Stuart also raised objections to keeping animals in such a fashion. "What is educational about seeing a wild animal held in captivity performing tricks and displaying unnatural behavior?" she said.
Voting to send the permit and lease amendments to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation were: Sanes, Sens. Myron Jackson, Diane Capehart, Shawn-Michael Malone, Clifford Graham and Janette Millin Young. Sen. Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly was absent.
Editor’s note: The Source mistakenly reported initially that rent for the dolphinquarium would be $1 per month for the first two years. The $1 is a standard comsioderation in government lease contracts. The rent for the submerged land will remain $20,000 a year for the first five years, an amount Coral World is already paying, due to an exchange agreement.
