Bermuda?s South Shore is again at the centre of a world-wide environmental controversy as both local and US activists have slammed a company?s appeal to build a dolphin park.

Dolphin Oasis? owners Martin and Lynn Hassell were refused planning permission by the Development Applications Board last December for the dolphin park at Sinky Bay in Southampton.

They are now appealing the decision to Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield, disagreeing with an expert opinion provided by the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that dredging the seabed would harm the bay and presenting a report by its own environmental engineers which said no harm would come to the bay through dredging.

National Trust director Steve Conway said a more detailed study of the potential effects of the dredging was needed as silt was one of the main killers of sea life world-wide.

?The Bermuda National Trust conveyed its concerns regarding this proposed dolphin facility in a letter to the Minister of the Environment back in March, 2004,? Mr. Conway said.

?The Trust questions the wisdom of locating another interactive facility on the South Shore. The remains of the previous failed Dolphin Quest facility on the bay at the Whaler Inn are still evident as a warning. It is a fact that the area is subjected to intense weather conditions during the long months of the hurricane season and winter storms. The increasing number and severity of hurricanes argue strongly against the placement of another facility on the South Shore.

?The proposal calls for the dredging of material from Sinky Bay to provide a swimming area for the dolphins. It is questionable, given the fluid nature of the disposition of sand along the South Shore, how long such significant dredging would suffice.

?It is unclear what the effect of such extensive dredging would have upon the turbidity (water clarity) of Sinky Bay and the resultant sedimentation effect on corals on the reef surrounds.

?Dredging leads to suspended sediments in the water which blocks light from reaching the sea floor and coral.

?Dredging will alter the hydrodynamics of the bay and potentially affect the hurricane impact on the surrounding area.

?The Trust has recommended that a far more detailed study and environmental analysis needs to be conducted in order to have a clear understanding of the effects that dredging such as this will have on the area?s marine environment. The increase of silt into the water column is known to be one of the main causes of death of coral reefs and sea life in the world,? Mr. Conway said.

And the Trust said they found it especially disturbing that foreign species were to be imported into Bermuda.

?An aspect of this application that the Trust finds especially disturbing is the possible importation of animals, whether exotic or alien members of local species,? he said. ?Bermuda has endured far too many graphic examples of the havoc introduced species can wreak on our unique environment.

?Similarly, the introduction of foreign members of a local species can introduce a whole new spectrum of pathogens to our local populations to which they have no defence. The potential harm such introductions can unleash must be fully assessed.?

Local activist Lisa Vickers ? who is studying for her doctorate in biology ? hit back at claims made in their appeal that she stirred up controversy by manipulating a local newspaper.

?I never made any attempt to manipulate the press and to my knowledge, there was nothing I stated to the press that was untrue. I wanted to point out to the public that their Island is threatened by greedy businessmen who care little for the environment or for animal welfare and much more about lining their own pockets,? Ms Vickers said.

?Dolphin Oasis has great potential to backfire and be very bad for Bermuda?s tourism. Let?s not forget that these kind of facilities are completely banned in the UK,? she said.

Ms Vickers said she was certain Dolphin Oasis will do absolutely nothing for tourism since Bermuda already has one.

?Dr. Brown insists that this facility will bring ?pop and sizzle? to Bermuda?s tourism offerings. I disagree and think that making Bermuda like the rest of the Caribbean while talking about it as if it were a box of Rice Krispies is not the answer. I believe that this park will only benefit a few people involved in tourism rather than promote tourism as a whole,? she said.

The average life of a dolphin in captivity is 20 years, she said, but the average life of a dolphin in the wild is 40.

?There is no certainty that transferring the dolphins to small holding tanks before a hurricane hits will not be incredibly stressful and result in death,? she said.

Ms Vickers said the transportation of wild animals around was world by airplane was unnatural.

?Dolphins frequently die soon after air transportation,? as they are packed in ice for flights, she said.

In their appeal, the company said both Mr. and Mrs. Hassell are animal lovers and have a companion dog.

?Do they shut their dog in a room for its entire life and charge people to go into the room and touch it?? Ms Vickers asked. ?If you lock a child in a cage long enough it would probably be too frightened to leave. Does that mean it?s fine to lock it up in the first place??

And the trainer who caught dolphins for the television show ?Flipper? in the 1960s Richard O?Barry, is spearheading the multinational green movement not to transport dolphins to Sinky Bay.

Based in Miami, but hired by the French animal rights organisation, One Voice, Mr. O?Barry yesterday said he was deeply opposed to the dolphin park.

The Hassells were off the Island yesterday so were unavailable for comment.

The only dolphin park at present in Bermuda is Dolphin Quest, whose website said 30 minutes in the water with a dolphin costs $195.

Mr. O? Barry said there are no more dolphin parks in the UK.

?This industry is based on supply and demand, if the public is educated they usually respond. (Dolphins) are dying to amuse you...It?s wrong.?