Sea World To Challenge California Ban On Orca Breeding

by | Oct 20, 2015 | Conservation, Science, Tanks | 10 comments

This week, Seaworld has announced it will be challenging the recent ban on  captive Orca Breeding. The California Coastal Committee issued a ruling that imposed restrictions on Sea World California, most notably, the restriction on Orca Breeding and prohibitions on the sale and transfer of Orcas in captivity. After the decision was made, Sea World issued comments illustrating its discontent, stating “breeding is a natural, fundamental and important part of an animal’s life and depriving a social animal of the right to reproduce is inhumane.” SeaWorld company President Joel Manby said it “defies common sense that a straightforward land-use permit approval would turn into a ban on animal husbandry practices — an area in which the commissioners have no education, training or expertise.”

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Sea World most recently has stated that it will be pursuing legal action and has hired a law firm. It is not clear the path that Sea World plans to take. “The Coastal Commission went way beyond its jurisdiction and authority when it banned breeding by killer whales at SeaWorld,By imposing broad new jurisdiction over all future SeaWorld marine animal projects, as well as aquarium projects elsewhere in the state, the commission has overstepped both federal and California law,”Manby said. Activists were not surprisingly excited and supportive about the Coastal Commissions decision. Although the Commission stated they have not seen a legal complaint and could not comment, other activists have. “SeaWorld is blowing smoke,” said Jared Goodman, an attorney with People from the Ethical Treatment of Animals.The commission “acted fully within its authority when, as a condition of its approval of building new tanks, it placed a ban on breeding orcas,” Goodman said. MORE

  • Francis is a marine biologist with an MBA and over 20 years of professional aquarium experience. Francis is the former Aquatic Development Manager at Hagen USA., makers of Fluval brand aquarium products. He co-stars on Nat Geo WILD's reality TV series Fish Tank Kings where he is the resident "Fish Geek" and was Director of Marketing at Living Color Aquariums. He is an avid explorer having visited over 45 countries and lived in 7. At 17, he was among the youngest aquarists ever hired by the Vancouver Aquarium, where he worked for 7 years. His aquatic biology experience ranges from larval fish rearing to the design, construction and operational management of renowned public aquariums around the world. Francis is currently head of marketing at the world's largest vertically integrated fish farming company.

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10 Comments

  1. Ian Garrett

    Orcas aren’t clown fish, they are large, intelligent mammals and no matter how big SeaWorld builds their “habitat” these animals will never get the enriched life they would have in the wild. There are plenty of other venues that support, promote and educate the public on the preservation of this species. It is cruel, inhumane and immoral….in my opinion.

    Reply
  2. Russell Cockrell

    Why are they banning the breeding?? Is this an effort to end orcas in captivity

    Reply
  3. Scott Welk

    What a load of shit. As a biologist you should know better than lock up huge family orientated animals in small ponds alone for the enjoyment of PAYING customers. This is not and never has been about conservation or research. If you want to research these animals then get off you butt and go out to their environment and research them like many have in the past.

    Reply
  4. Mark Pandanell

    I’ll not reply to ignorance. I’m simply disliking this page now.

    Everyone else who opposes Orcas in captivity should also dislike this page.

    Reply
  5. Mark Pandanell

    I’ll not reply to ignorance. I’m simply disliking this page now.

    Everyone else who opposes Orcas in captivity should also dislike this page.

    Reply
  6. Maria Lourdes Solorzano-Bernau

    I’m unliking this page too. How can you claim to support conservation and also support the display of these social animals? You lack sense.

    Reply
  7. Colette Gibbings

    Seriously unlike, if you had any idea what you were talking about then you wouldn’t support any cetaceans being kept in captivity. It’s practically the same as keeping a human in one small area and claiming they’d be fine. They should be grated the extended version of human rights for animals too intelligent to be treated this way. Other countries can do it so why not America, ‘the land of the free’ *pfft*. And you spreading to the masses that YOU think this is okay?! What the hell.

    Reply

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