Support NeoGAF

[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SeaWorld-says-California-agency-overreached-in-6727569.php

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A California commission was overreaching when it banned the breeding of captive killer whales at a $100 million planned exhibit at San Diego's SeaWorld, the park claimed in a lawsuit.

The suit filed Tuesday in San Diego County Superior Court asserts that the park's treatment of its whales is subject to federal law and not the decisions of the California Coastal Commission, which must approve major new building developments in coastal cities.

The commission endorsed the orca tank expansion known as "Blue World," but in a surprising and serious blow to the park included a ban on breeding at the planned facility and prohibitions on the sale, trade or transfer of the whales.

"This last-minute 'no breeding or transfer' condition is unprecedented," SeaWorld said in the lawsuit, which claims the commission's action is illegal because it has no jurisdiction over the orcas.

"The orcas are not, in any way, part of the coastal or marine environment," the lawsuit says. "All of SeaWorld's activities with respect to the care, breeding and transportation of orcas occur onshore in the orca pools and not in the marine environment and are specifically governed by federal law."

Noaki Schwartz, spokeswoman for the Coastal Commission, said the agency could not comment on the particulars of the lawsuit, but the commission said in a statement that it "stands by its decision in October to protect killer whales."

People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the main group opposing the project, said in a statement Tuesday that the commission was within its rights and made the correct decision.

"It's clear that the company's primary intention in pursuing the Blue World Project was to breed more orcas to confine to tanks," PETA said in a statement.

SeaWorld said in October that it would challenge the decision and that it had hired attorneys to examine it but did not give specifics before filing the lawsuit Tuesday.

Last month, the Orlando, Florida-based company said it would end theatrical orca shows at the San Diego park after visitors at the tourist attraction made it clear they prefer seeing killer whales act naturally rather than doing tricks.

The shows will continue at the company's Orlando and San Antonio parks, which are not affected by the breeding ban.

 

[Enter The 36 Chambers]

I hate that these shit heels are allowed to keep orcas captive. Shut them down and free the orcas for Christ's sakes

 

[ReAxion]

I thought it was overreaching, too.

 

[The Faceless Master]

I hate that these shit heels are allowed to keep orcas captive. Shut them down and free the orcas for Christ's sakes

the sad thing is setting them free is basically a death sentence.

they don't know how to survive in the real world.

 

[Dethklok707]

Everyone on the internet is such an animal activist these days because they saw a movie on Netflix.

In an ideal world, is an animal better off in its natural habitat? Yes. However, that is not the world we live in unfortunately. How many species are extinct because of us? How many more are coming? Animals are actually safer in captivity. We seem to have no problem putting a goldfish in a bowl, laughing at a cat chasing a laser pointer, sentencing livestock to produce food, or "training" a dog to ignore its instincts and just sit there.

Sea World has significantly expanded their tanks, and said fine, we won't take anymore from the ocean. Now they are told the ones they have can't reproduce? They have made way more of an effort than other parties that need to.

 

[Eye for an Eye]

Tilikum is the only wild one they have in Florida. He wasn't even caught by SeaWorld but they get hit with the blame.

All the orcas have been bred in captivity and do not effect the wild population in any way. How many science labs are there in America that keep captive bred animals for research? How many other animals are kept in captivity for breeding? Every one praises the zoos for breeding white tigers or panda bears.

People just want a band wagon to jump on. I miss living in Orlando and having an annual pass there. I live too far from any of the parks now.

 

[Joni]

I hate that these shit heels are allowed to keep orcas captive. Shut them down and free the orcas for Christ's sakes

Keiko died. The one whale everybody wanted free and that was followed up very thorougly died. And that was an actual wild orca. These captured orca would be dead within a year.

 

[Krejlooc]

I thought Sea World said it was doing away with it's Orca acts?

 

[Toxi]

Everyone on the internet is such an animal activist these days because they saw a movie on Netflix.

In an ideal world, is an animal better off in its natural habitat? Yes. However, that is not the world we live in unfortunately. How many species are extinct because of us? How many more are coming? Animals are actually safer in captivity. We seem to have no problem putting a goldfish in a bowl, laughing at a cat chasing a laser pointer, sentencing livestock to produce food, or "training" a dog to ignore its instincts and just sit there.

Sea World has significantly expanded their tanks, and said fine, we won't take anymore from the ocean. Now they are told the ones they have can't reproduce? They have made way more of an effort than other parties that need to.

Orcas are not safer in captivity. The entire point of banning the breeding of orcas for exhibition purposes is to end keeping captive orcas outside of scientific and conservation purposes.

Also, it's interesting you bring up goldfish bowls, which are basically deathtraps for fish because they lack filtration.

 

[UncleSporky]

In favor of breeding more animals that are endangered and taking care of them/having them in sanctuaries if necessary.

Not in favor of mistreating them for the sake of entertainment, small tanks, stress etc.

Saving the species through breeding programs takes precedence over a desire for better treatment. Of course both would be ideal.

 

[Stumpokapow]

Maybe goading the state into taking more dramatic action by telling them they have no authority over you is not the best move if you're an embattled and unpopular company depending on state legal authorization to survive

Everyone on the internet is such an animal activist these days because they saw a movie on Netflix.

In an ideal world, is an animal better off in its natural habitat? Yes. However, that is not the world we live in unfortunately. How many species are extinct because of us? How many more are coming? Animals are actually safer in captivity. We seem to have no problem putting a goldfish in a bowl, laughing at a cat chasing a laser pointer, sentencing livestock to produce food, or "training" a dog to ignore its instincts and just sit there.

Increasingly people do have problems with goldfish in bowls (because water quality in stagnant bowls is poor and because there's not enough space; this is an emerging ethical issue that's somewhere behind declawing on the list of issues that have permeated the public conscience), the same activists behind this are largely groups who advocate reforming factory farming or giving up meat consumption, and you seem to think there's no difference between animals that can be domesticated and animals that can't. For the allegation that "everyone is such an animal activist but they don't know anything", you think you'd be bringing knowledge to the table.

 

[Toxi]

In favor of breeding more animals that are endangered and taking care of them/having them in sanctuaries if necessary.

Not in favor of mistreating them for the sake of entertainment, small tanks, stress etc.

Saving the species through breeding programs takes precedence over a desire for better treatment. Of course both would be ideal.

I don't know about the California ban, but the upcoming Federal bill specifically bans breeding orcas for display and exhibition. Breeding orcas for conservation purposes would still be completely possible, but Seaworld doesn't breed orcas for conservation purposes.

Seaworld, no matter what horseshit they feed people, breed orcas for business.

 

[Team Alucard]

Blackfish already killed them.

I don't see why they don't just stop the Orca stuff already.

 

[vainglorious]

Blackfish already killed them.

I don't see why they don't just stop the Orca stuff already.

Seriously. If anything they need to expand on their already existing aquarium assets and infrastructure and focus on that as well as conservation and rehabilitation for wild animals. It's not gonna rake in the money for investors as they were able to previously but that era for SeaWorld is clearly fucking over. Bite the bullet assholes, move on.

 

[UncleSporky]

I don't know about the California ban, but the upcoming Federal bill specifically bans breeding orcas for display and exhibition. Breeding orcas for conservation purposes would still be completely possible, but Seaworld doesn't breed orcas for conservation purposes.

Seaworld, no matter what horseshit they feed people, breed orcas for business.

While I know that zoos are important for public education about animals (and typically have conservation programs running in tandem with the business side), I don't know a lot about Seaworld in this case.

There's something to be said for keeping animals in public consciousness, making them fall in love with these amazing creatures and get involved with conservation. But I'm not sure the impact is measurable. Picturing one universe with Seaworld and one without...which one ends up with more money dedicated to conservation?

 

[BigDug13]

Pigs are really smart too and we do far worse shit to them without anyone batting an eye. Not sure why whales are this untouchable animal for captivity when we hold all kinds of intelligent animals captive.

you have to hold it all to the same standard. Stop picking and choosing which animal captives are worthy of saving.

 

[Toxi]

While I know that zoos are important for public education about animals (and typically have conservation programs running in tandem with the business side), I don't know a lot about Seaworld in this case.

There's something to be said for keeping animals in public consciousness, making them fall in love with these amazing creatures and get involved with conservation. But I'm not sure the impact is measurable. Picturing one universe with Seaworld and one without...which one ends up with more money dedicated to conservation?

There is something to be said for keeping animals in the public consciousness.

But there are ways to do that without keeping an animal like the orca dolphin captive in unsuitable conditions.

Pigs are really smart too and we do far worse shit to them without anyone batting an eye. Not sure why whales are this untouchable animal for captivity when we hold all kinds of intelligent animals captive.

you have to hold it all to the same standard. Stop picking and choosing which animal captives are worthy of saving.

The problem isn't just that they're intelligent animals, the problem is that captivity significantly decreases their lifespan and increases their stress.

 

[tcrunch]

Pigs are really smart too and we do far worse shit to them without anyone batting an eye. Not sure why whales are this untouchable animal for captivity when we hold all kinds of intelligent animals captive.

you have to hold it all to the same standard. Stop picking and choosing which animal captives are worthy of saving.

Just because all animals aren't being held to the same standard doesn't mean it's wrong to help a particular animal. If you are in favor of animals being treated better, you should applaud ANY movement in that direction, even if it isn't equally spread over all animals. It's still serving your ultimate goal at the practical level.

 

[IISANDERII]

Everyone on the internet is such an animal activist these days because they saw a movie on Netflix.

In an ideal world, is an animal better off in its natural habitat? Yes. However, that is not the world we live in unfortunately. How many species are extinct because of us? How many more are coming? Animals are actually safer in captivity. We seem to have no problem putting a goldfish in a bowl, laughing at a cat chasing a laser pointer, sentencing livestock to produce food, or "training" a dog to ignore its instincts and just sit there.

Sea World has significantly expanded their tanks, and said fine, we won't take anymore from the ocean. Now they are told the ones they have can't reproduce? They have made way more of an effort than other parties that need to.

Yea let's put everything in captivity so we have more clearance to ruin nature.

 

[UncleSporky]

The problem isn't just that they're intelligent animals, the problem is that captivity significantly decreases their lifespan and increases their stress.

Well the specific example he used was pigs, so I'm not sure how this is a rebuttal.

 

[kame-sennin]

Everyone on the internet is such an animal activist these days because they saw a movie on Netflix.

In an ideal world, is an animal better off in its natural habitat? Yes. However, that is not the world we live in unfortunately. How many species are extinct because of us? How many more are coming? Animals are actually safer in captivity. We seem to have no problem putting a goldfish in a bowl, laughing at a cat chasing a laser pointer, sentencing livestock to produce food, or "training" a dog to ignore its instincts and just sit there.

Tilikum is the only wild one they have in Florida. He wasn't even caught by SeaWorld but they get hit with the blame.

All the orcas have been bred in captivity and do not effect the wild population in any way. How many science labs are there in America that keep captive bred animals for research? How many other animals are kept in captivity for breeding? Every one praises the zoos for breeding white tigers or panda bears.

People just want a band wagon to jump on. I miss living in Orlando and having an annual pass there. I live too far from any of the parks now.

Pigs are really smart too and we do far worse shit to them without anyone batting an eye. Not sure why whales are this untouchable animal for captivity when we hold all kinds of intelligent animals captive.

you have to hold it all to the same standard. Stop picking and choosing which animal captives are worthy of saving.

"We do lots of bad things to animals, so we should continue doing this particular bad thing."