Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources says its main reason for protecting dolphins is to keep the tuna industry running.
Photo: Supplied/WWF
Earlier this month, 20 dolphins were rescued from captivity in a joint police and fisheries operation at Rapata Village in the Western Province.
The Ministry's technical secretary Farrah Lafi said 14 suspects would appear in court and could face a penalty of $US65,000 and or imprisonment not exceeding two years.
Mr Lafi said suspects do this illegal activity for the aquarium trade overseas, which was reportedly worth a lot of money.
He said this puts the Solomon Islands tuna industry at risk.
"Those countries that are buying the products overseas, Europe especially, the requirement is they don't want the trade to be associated with dolphins in the country. They don't want to be involved in hunting killing dolphins, so we have to make sure that this sort of practice are not encouraged."