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[Ovid]

California has approved a multimillion-dollar expansion of the killer whale habitat at SeaWorld in San Diego, but it banned the breeding of the whales in captivity and restricted how the whales may be brought into the park. The conditions placed on the project by the California Coastal Commission, met late Thursday at a public hearing in Long Beach, mean that the 11 whales now in the park will not be replaced by breeding, calling into question the future of the killer whale shows that are a centerpiece of the marine parks. SeaWorld said on Friday that it was disappointed in the decision and that it was reviewing its options. Animal rights activists applauded the decision.

The treatment of killer whales, which are the largest members of the dolphin family and are also called orcas or blackfish, was highlighted in 2013 with the release of a documentary called “Blackfish.” The film centered on a performing 12,000-pound killer whale named Tilikum that has been implicated in the deaths of three people, including his trainer, while in captivity at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. In the film, trainers point to a gap between SeaWorld’s public image and the behind-the-scenes reality. SeaWorld strenuously objected to the film, saying it was inaccurate and misleading.

SeaWorld sought approval from the California commission for a whale environment to be built under a $100 million so-called Blue World Project, which was announced in 2014. The project in San Diego would create a habitat with a surface area of 1.5 acres and a depth of 50 feet, doubling the water volume of the existing facility. The new San Diego habitat was expected to open to the public in 2018, with new killer whale homes to follow at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio.

The commission’s approval came after it had attached an amendment with prohibitions against the breeding of the whales in captivity and against the sale, trade or transfer of captive orcas. It does not affect any whales at SeaWorld that were taken from the wild with a federal permit. It was not immediately clear whether any of the 11 orcas at the San Diego park were obtained through such permits.

A separate statement from SeaWorld said depriving the whales of breeding was “inhumane.”

nytimes.com

As much as I hate the fact that these orcas are kept in these places for our entertainment, releasing them into the wild would kill them. It seems "Blackfish" put a spotlight on the negligence of Seaworld and seems to have made a difference.

 

[wanderingprostheyltite]

How is it inhumane when all they're being bred for is entertainment? Or are they arguing that's conservation? Just seems like a whale factory for people's amusement to me. Good on the state for taking action.

 

[GustyGardens]

http://blueworldproject.seaworld.com/

For more information about the the Blue World Project. As you said, it's sad to see these animals in captivity, but to set them free would only ensure a swift death.

 

[psylah]

I'd like to see them try to stop a horny whale.

Spoiler

I'd pay upwards of $40 a ticket.

 

[GustyGardens]

I'd like to see them try to stop a horny whale.

Spoiler

I'd pay upwards of $40 a ticket.

That might actually lead to the animals becoming more aggressive.

 

[Darth Pinche]

After seeing the current Orca enclosure, the proposed doubling of its size it still pathetically small.