Trixie C and Her Longstanding Actions for Dolphins
By Mark J. Palmer
The Earth Island International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) has worked very closely with Trixie Concepcion and her team in the Philippines since the early days of Dolphin Safe tuna.
Trixie and her team focus on conducting audits of tuna companies that are part of IMMP’s international Dolphin Safe tuna standards to prevent the loss of dolphins in purse seine nets. Through the years, Trixie has expanded her work to include many other major countries in the Southwest Pacific: Indonesia, Vietnam, and China, among many others. Trixie’s team will check up on canneries, fishing vessels, and cold storage units, as well as regularly reviewing extensive fishing records, to ensure that fishermen are fishing without setting nets around any dolphins.
Photo Credit: IMMP, Earth Island Philippines
Tuna monitors in the Philippines audit tuna catches to protect dolphins. Photo Credit: EII Philippines
Trixie’s team has further conducted educational training for ship captains and tuna company crews to explain what steps should be taken to protect dolphins. Why are dolphins important? Why Dolphin Safe means they should never set nets on dolphins? What should the fishermen do if they accidentally catch a dolphin – how best to release it alive and unhurt?
Training conducted in the Philippines for tuna fishermen. Photo Credit: EII Philippines
Back in December, Trixie and her team joined hundreds of other bicyclists in their annual “Peddle for the Planet” rally. The event is a bike ride organized by Trixie’s team and included about 400+ bikers, environmentalists, fisherfolk groups, and women’s advocacy groups to join in calling for the protection of environmental defenders and advocating for better environmental protection.
Bicyclists gather in the Philippines to Peddle for the Planet. Photo Credit: EII Philippines
Many of IMMP’s staff and consultants in other countries, working to protect dolphins in the tuna fishery, are also working on other issues of importance in those countries.
Trixie Concepcion and her team in the Philippines are outstanding examples of the value of IMMP’s work all over the world to protect whales, dolphins, and their ocean homes.
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Your donations in the past directly led to Dolphin Safe fishing methods being adopted by more than 90% of the world’s tuna fishing industry, saving the lives of an estimated 90,000 dolphins annually. It is a key victory for dolphins! IMMP has led efforts to protect whales and dolphins around the world with our dedicated staff, lean operation, and your support. Please donate today!
