Solomon Islands Restore Ban on Dolphin Exports

The Solomon Islands government has officially reinstated its ban on the export of live dolphins, reversing a controversial decision made by the previous administration that briefly re-opened the door to the international dolphin trade.

On May 16, 2026, Prime Minister Matthew Wale signed the Fisheries (Prohibition of Export of Dolphins) Regulations 2026, restoring protections that had been in place for years. The move came just days after the previous government had repealed the long-standing prohibition.

According to the Solomon Islands government, the new regulation immediately reinstated the ban on dolphin exports while also sending a strong message that prioritizes strict fisheries standards along with national interests.

History

Beginning in the early 2000s, dolphins captured from Solomon Islands waters were exported to aquariums, marine parks, and dolphinaria overseas. The trade attracted international criticism due to concerns about both conservation and animal welfare.

In September 2011, the Solomon Islands government announced a policy banning dolphin exports, which took effect on January 1, 2012. The measure was widely regarded as a significant step forward for marine mammal conservation and effectively ended the international export of live dolphins from the country.

For more than two decades, Dolphin Project has worked to expose and challenge the capture and export of wild dolphins from the Solomon Islands. Through investigations, international advocacy, government engagement, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with local and global conservation partners, Dolphin Project has consistently called for an end to the live dolphin trade, reinforcing that dolphins belong in the ocean, where they can live as nature intended.

Sources used in this blog:

PM Wale revokes dolphin export regulation – Solomon Islands Government, 5/18/26
Solomon Islands PM smacks down secret reinstatement of live dolphin exports – Radio New Zealand, 5/18/26
PM restores dolphin export ban – The Island Sun, 5/18/26
Solomon Islands Campaign: Dolphin Trafficking – DolphinProject.org

Featured image: After millions of years of evolution, dolphins deserve to live as nature intended: wild and free, not performing tricks for food. Credit: DolphinProject.org