An Open Letter to GMA Network’s Unang Hirit

Warm greetings from Earth Island Institute Asia Pacific (EII-AP)!

We are writing to express our deep concern over Unang Hirit’s July 23, 2026 feature on Ocean Adventure Subic Bay, which showcased captive dolphins through live performances and interactive encounters on World Whale and Dolphin Day.

While the segment may have been intended as lighthearted entertainment, it also served as an endorsement of dolphin captivity before a nationwide audience. Television has the power to shape public perceptions, particularly among children and families. When captive marine mammals are portrayed as attractions to visit, touch, and interact with—without presenting the scientific, ethical, and conservation issues surrounding captivity—the public may come away with the impression that these practices are harmless, educational, or even beneficial to wildlife.

As one of the country’s most influential morning programs, Unang Hirit reaches millions of Filipinos every day. With that reach comes an opportunity and a responsibility to help audiences better understand wildlife conservation and promote responsible, science-based ways of appreciating marine life.

The timing of the broadcast was particularly unfortunate. World Whale and Dolphin Day traces its origins to the historic 1982 decision of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to adopt a global moratorium on commercial whaling, which took effect in 1986. Since then, the occasion has become a global call to celebrate whales and dolphins in the wild while promoting their protection and conservation—not their commercial exploitation for entertainment.

Yet on a day dedicated to cetacean conservation, Unang Hirit chose to feature dolphin performances and close-contact interactions in Ocean Adventure. This was especially ironic considering that the facility has been linked to the importation and commercial holding of wild-caught dolphins from the Solomon Islands, as well as animals associated with the brutal Taiji, Japan dolphin hunts documented in The Cove.

The Philippines is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which seeks to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Many cetacean species, including bottlenose dolphins, are listed under Appendix II. Philippine law likewise recognizes the need to regulate trade involving CITES-listed aquatic species through the Philippine Fisheries Code to help ensure their conservation.

Scientific evidence shows that captivity severely restricts the natural behaviors of dolphins. These highly intelligent, social, and wide-ranging marine mammals naturally live in close-knit family groups, communicate through sophisticated vocalizations, and travel tens to hundreds of kilometers each day. Confinement compromises their welfare and has consistently been associated with chronic stress, abnormal repetitive behaviors, and reduced opportunities to express their natural behaviors.

This is also not the first time Unang Hirit has promoted dolphin captivity. In 2021, the program featured celebrities swimming with captive dolphins at the same facility, reflecting a pattern of presenting captive dolphin interactions as desirable tourism experiences despite longstanding scientific, ethical, and conservation concerns surrounding the industry.

The future of marine conservation depends not only on stronger policies, but also an informed and aware public. As one of the country’s leading media institutions, GMA has an important role in shaping that awareness. The stories presented in mainstream media influence how millions of Filipinos understand wildlife, conservation, and our relationship with nature.

We respectfully encourage GMA Network and Unang Hirit to use their platform to highlight ethical wildlife tourism, marine science, and genuine conservation initiatives that keeps dolphins where they belong – in the wild. The Philippines is home to extraordinary opportunities to observe dolphins responsibly in their natural habitats, and these are the stories that deserve greater visibility.

We offer this letter in the spirit of constructive dialogue. Earth Island Institute Asia Pacific would be pleased to provide scientific resources, connect your team with marine mammal experts, or collaborate on future stories that advance marine conservation and responsible ecotourism.

Dolphins belong in the ocean – not in tanks.

Keep Them Safe. Keep Them Wild. Keep Them Free.

Sincerely,

Earth Island Institute-Asia Pacific