Representatives from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature have began checking on the health of dolphins held in captivity by Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Nelson Kile had invited the IUCN team to visit the dolphins to ensure they are fit and healthy and well looked after.

The mammals currently held in an enclosure on the island of Gavutu in Central Province are at the centre of a dolphin-exporting storm.

In July, operators of the Gavutu Island dolphin centre exported 30 dolphins to a water park in Cancun, Mexico.

Last weekend, about 200 protesters wearing grey foam dolphin hats held a rally to demand the release of the 30 dolphins imported from the Solomon Islands.