Board this week gave the green light to the owner of the Southampton Princess for a multi-million dollar dolphin habitat.

The habitat, which is to be situated off the South Shore at the Whaler Inn in Southampton, was given planning permission only and will include necessary marine accessories.

The facility will be owned by hotel owner West End Properties and operated by Dolphin Quest, a 10-year-old company already running a similar venture in Hawaii.

In September last year the Trust, along with the NLP and the Island's diving community protested against the idea.

However, the chairman of the Trust's marine environment committee and member of the council of the Trust Mr. Stephen Cook said the objection to the plan was not intended to stop the project.

"It was intended to ensure that our concerns for the wellbeing of the animals were met and provided for, and to mitigate the impact of the facilities being constructed on the environment as much as possible,'' Mr. Cook said.

"We were pleased with the conditions that the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Parks set.'' The Board stated that prior to the commencement of building operations for the facility, the applicant must secure a licence to encroach on the foreshore.

"For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of visual amenity, all sheet piling, fencing and ancillary marine components, with the exception of the Bermuda stone material used in constructing the rock augmentation barrier, shall be removed from the site within three months of the cessation of use of the facility,'' the Board said.

West End Properties was also told to arrange for the relocation of existing moorings within the site to an alternative location and to erect lighted beacons along both lines of submerged fences to inform boaters of their presence.

"For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Use of Occupancy permit, the applicant shall obtain the necessary licenses to import marine mammals as regulated by the Agriculture Act (Control of Animal Disease) Regulations 1947 and the Fisheries Act 1972,'' the Board added.

It also said an adequate classroom facility should be made available within the existing buildings at the site for the use of the hereby approved dolphin programme in times of inclement weather or whenever a land based facility is deemed appropriate.

But Mr. Cook said welcomed the importation permir requirement but added: "We are disappointed that it did not go on to require a licence for the keeping and care of the animals on an ongoing basis.

Mr. Cook also said that there should be ongoing nutrients in the waters in the bay.

"There is normally sufficient flushing but we fear that there will be unsafe concentration however, the hotel will most likely watch that because the swimming beach is nearby,'' Mr. Cook added.

He also said the Trust noted that the regulations did not require making the dolphin pen area an exclusion area for boats.

"We are concerned as to whether there will be a further plan for bigger classrooms,'' Mr. Cook said. "We will be sad to see more buildings on the beach. Development should be kept to a minimum.'' Mr. Cook also said that the Trust feared that with "some of our winters with frequent and cold storms, they may get into a practice of keeping the dolphins in pens on a seasonal basis''.