Solomon Islands Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources has rejected claims by marine mammal activists that exporting live dolphins and keeping them in captivity is an act of cruelty.
Nollen Leni also dismissed comments that allowing Solomon Islands Marine Mammal Education Centre to export 28 live dolphins could have trade implications for tuna exports.
Mr Leni told the SIBC that he challenged conservation activists who've spoken against government's lifting of the ban on dolphin exports.
And he questions why activists have not spoken out against the millions of animals taken from the wild in Africa and placed in zoo's, and against countries that keep dolphins captive in large aquariums.
He says it's sad that people are talking about a small number of dolphins the country is exporting.
