Once again, this newspaper and ? no doubt ? the Ministry of the Environment are being bombarded with objections to plans to build a dolphin park at Sinky Bay in Southampton.

The application by Martin and Lynn Hassell was rejected by the Development Applications Board largely because of concerns over plans to dredge the bay adjacent to the Wyndham Southampton Resort (formerly the Sonesta Beach Hotel).

That rejection was driven in part by a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals report that questioned whether the mammals would be safe and healthy in the bay.

An objection was also made by Dolphin Quest, which already has a dolphin park in Bermuda, which raised concerns about the siting of the facility, given that organisation?s disastrous experience with its old location at the Fairmont Southampton during Hurricane Felix. The Hassells have countered with an expert opinion of their own, which unsurprisingly, says the dredging will be fine.

They have also received support from Tourism Minister Ewart Brown, who argues in e-mails obtained by that the Dolphin Oasis, will add sizzle to the Bermuda tourism experience and notes that Dolphin Quest is, in effect, trying to block competition.

There is some merit in the latter point. Clearly Dolphin Quest should not block competition in a free market. But Dolphin Quest?s other point is well taken; the best evacuation plan in the world is still risky if a storm comes out of nowhere and the South Shore is dreadfully exposed. Equally importantly, even if the dolphins were safely evacuated, the site itself would be exposed to the elements and could be severely damaged. The old Dolphin Quest site has still not been restored to its natural state and it may not be feasible to do so.

If Dolphin Oasis did go ahead but was not financially successful, what then? Bermuda would be left with the remains of a tourist attraction and an irrevocably changed piece of the environment.

The broader question concerns whether keeping dolphins in captivity is acceptable at all. Dr. Andrew Madeiros, a veterinarian and the chairman of the SPCA shelter, points out that there are no laws governing the care and treatment of dolphins, as there are for pets and livestock.

The history of keeping sea animals like dolphins is not a pretty one. While there are reputable and caring dolphin parks around the world, there are other examples of dreadful treatment, shortened life spans and the like.

More importantly, is hard, if not impossible, to make the case that dolphins are happier, or even as happy, in captivity than they are roaming the oceans in their natural habitats.

For all of those reasons, the question not only of allowing not only Dolphin Oasis but Dolphin Quest to operate in Bermuda needs to be examined carefully.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield should consider this whole question when reviewing the appeal. That?s more important now than ever before since Dr. Brown has made it clear he views Dolphin Oasis as important to the future of Bermuda tourism.

Ms Butterfield can overrule the DAB on the basis of the national interest, and Dr. Brown has made a case that this plan is. Now Ms Butterfield must weigh the merits of helping tourism against the potential damage being done to the dolphins and Bermuda?s environment.