IL Postcard

Ocean Embassy Plans Controversial Marine Park Near San Carlos

Date: 03/07/2007

Panama's Pacific Coast area that lies within a two-hour drive from Panama City has long been a second home haven for the nation's wealthy. A new project, dubbed Ocean Embassy Panama, will attract even more interest to this popular area.

The Florida-based Ocean Embassy group, which has consulted on over half of the world's dolphin swim facilities, has acquired land in Panama's San Carlos district for the company's first-ever Ocean Embassy aquarium and resort.

The Ocean Embassy resort will boast marine-focused activities, lush accommodations, ocean-themed shopping, beach sports, and top-notch dining and spa facilities. The first phase of construction-featuring marine animal care, animal training and learning facilities-is currently underway. The project will encompass 16 acres of land and three large natural seawater lagoons. The total investment will amount to some $300 million over the next seven to 10 years, and will employ about 400 Panamanians.

There has been much criticism from local environmentalists, who object to the capture of bottle-nosed dolphins for the resort's aquarium. Ocean Embassy says that critics should study the group's practices and impressive track record. Company representatives say that the interactive exhibits in Panama will teach people to care for and respect ocean wildlife, and that the dolphin habitat will hold some 870,000 gallons of water (over five times the water volume required by U.S. regulations).

Just last month, Ocean Embassy announced it would launch a comprehensive marine mammal conservation strategy. The strategy's research, breeding, and educational components will aim to encourage the protection of wild dolphins.

This measure has not silenced many critics. Alexandra Cousteau (granddaughter of the famous explorer and ecologist, Jacques Cousteau) has been vociferous about the park, and local organizations are banding together in a national campaign to prevent the capture of dolphins in Panamanian waters. Panama's La Prensa newspaper cites a recent survey in which over 80% of the Panamanians polled say they do not agree with the capture of dolphins here.

We'll keep you posted as the project progresses.

Hasta pronto,

Brandon Clogston
International Living / Panama