Mark Palmer of the Earth Island Institute (motto: Fight for a Sustainable World), accuses the Bush Administration of "selling out dolphins to reward Mexican tuna millionaires." It would seem as though some enviro-wackos are unhappy with the relaxing of the 'Dolphin-safe' tuna rules.

Now, dolphins are by no means endangered. But while the AP reports that only about 3000 are killed annually in Eastern Pacific tuna nets, EII claims that the new rules will net 20-40,000 dolphins killed each year. Not surprisingly, they offer no evidence to support that claim.

While the AP calls EII "a leading advocacy group for increased protection of dolphins," a look at their site shows that they may not be playing with a full deck.

EII director, David Phillips, claims that Mexican and Central American tuna fishing is all just a big front for drug smugglers. "The American public deserves to know the truth about how tuna was caught," Phillips stated. "The Secretary's decision to deliberately lie to American consumers benefits a small handful of Mexican tuna millionaires and drug lords, who can now import tuna to the U.S. using a phony "Dolphin Safe" label. All of the major U.S. and European tuna processors have pledged not to buy or sell such tuna. American consumers won't buy tuna stained by the blood of dolphins." (Emphasis mine)

Speak for yourself Phillips. I could care less if tuna is 'dolphin safe'. It tastes just the same to me.