Watch: ESA President Delivers Formal Letter To Authorities Over Dolphin Suffering
The President of the Earth Systems Association (ESA) has personally handed a formal letter to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo, Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said, and the Director of the Animal Welfare Directorate, raising urgent concerns over the welfare of dolphins at Mediterraneo Marine Park.
Backed by eyewitness accounts and evidence, the letter calls for an immediate end to dolphin shows, a permanent ban on breeding and importation, and an independent investigation into animal welfare at the park as part of the ongoing Waves Not Walls campaign.
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In a detailed email to the Animal Welfare Directorate, campaigners flagged alleged failures in water quality management, neglected infrastructure, and signs of physical and psychological distress in dolphins, while also questioning the legality and ethics of public interactions with the animals.
Animal rights advocates have also raised concerns about a planned expansion of sea lion facilities and the welfare of other animals at the park, calling for full transparency and independent review.
Alongside ESA, organisations including Animal Liberation Malta, Marine Connection, Friends of the Earth Malta, Dolphin Project, and TideBreakers are calling for the public release of findings and a reassessment of the park’s licence.
They have also urged Green’s Supermarket to stop promoting Mediterraneo Marine Park through voucher schemes, saying such partnerships undermine growing public concern over keeping wild animals in captivity for entertainment.
Campaigners say it’s time for both authorities and local businesses to take responsibility and help bring these practices to an end.
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