Following Bruising Long Beach Coastal Comm'n Hearing, SeaWorld Announces It Will End Its Captive Breeding of Orca Whales And End Its Theatrical Performances Of Orcas In Favor of Exhibits Highlighting The Whales' Natural Behaviors
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(Mar. 17, 2016) -- Following a bruising hearing in Long Beach at which the Coastal Commission voted to go beyond its staff recommendation and conditioned a
company sought expansion on ending captive orca whale breeding (in response to which Sea World filed suit challenging the Coastal Comm'n action as beyond its authority), SeaWorld today (March 17) announced that it will end its breeding of captive orca whales...and will end its theatrical performances of orcas in favor or orca exhibits that highlight the whales' natural behaviors.
LBREPORT.com provides below the text of a March 17 statement signed by the Presidents/CEOs of SeaWorld and HSUS:
[Scroll down for further]
[SeaWorld website text]
Orlando, Florida (March 17, 2016) -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) commends SeaWorld for its game-changing commitment to end breeding of orcas, a long-held goal of many animal advocacy organizations. While the orcas live out their lives at SeaWorld, HSUS also commends the company for ending its theatrical performances of orcas in favor of orca exhibits that highlight the whales' natural behaviors, and for redoubling its commitment to rescue and rehabilitation model for marine animals in crisis.
We look forward to joining together in a partnership focused on preserving and protecting wild animals and the places they live.
For more than 50 years, SeaWorld has been one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations,
inspiring guests to protect animals and the natural world through personal, interactive and informative experiences. And, with its 1,500 animal care professionals, the company provides world class and humane care for all its animals, cared for thousands of wild animals in distress and rehabilitated them, and conducted a range of educational and scientific research programs.
The HSUS is the nation’s largest and most effective animal protection and advocacy organization that is seeking a humane world for people and animals alike by driving transformational change in the U.S. and around the world. HSUS and its affiliates provide hands-on care and services to more than 150,000 animals each year.
HSUS and SeaWorld will work together as advocates and educators for the ocean and its animals on:
Fish and Marine Mammal Protection: SeaWorld and HSUS will actively partner in efforts against the commercial killing of whales, seals and other marine mammals as well as ending shark finning. These initiatives are in addition to the rescue, research and resources SeaWorld already commits to protecting and saving marine mammals in the wild.
Healthy Oceans: SeaWorld and HSUS will actively partner on efforts to protect coral reefs and the marine species that inhabit them from the over exploitation of wild-caught ornamental fish.
Sustainable Seafood: All seafood served in the park will be sustainable and the company will carry other food offerings that reflect an awareness of animal welfare, such as crate-free pork, cage-free eggs and more vegetarian options.
SeaWorld and HSUS will continue to look for additional opportunities for strategic collaboration, to grow their efforts to advocate for ocean preservation and conservation and the humane treatment of animals.
s/ Joel Manby, President and CEO
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment
s/ Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO
Humane Society of the United States
Reacting the development, the Ora Project stated on its Facebook page:
[Orca Project Facebook page text] A HUGE WIN FOR ORCAS AND US!
The beginning of the end of a dark era. This is what happens when great minds come together and focus on a goal. Just amazing news.
.
Among those present at the October 8, 2015 Long Beach hearing (which stretched from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) were Ann Cantrell (didn't get a chance to speak) and Gordana Kajer. LBREPORT.com also learned and reported that Long Beach environmental and wetlands advocate Elizabeth Lambe (who is separately the Exec. Dir. of the Los Cerritos Wetland Land Trust) had been working in her personal capacity since at least September with former Coastal Commission member Sara Wan and others on the advocacy strategy that prevailed.
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Sea World (San Diego) went into the hearing armed with Coastal Commission staff supporting the company's application to expand the size of its orca whale tank, plus letters of support from local politicians and state legislators, the local Chamber of Commerce, trade associations, craft unions and 30,000 signed forms supporting the company's position. It left with a permit allowning the work but with a condition SeaWorld said it couldn't accept: forbidding breeding of the orcas, which a company rep said would mean the slow extinction of the orcas it now holds.
Commissioner Dayna Bochco moved an amendment (to Coastal Comm'n staff's recommended approval) that let Sea World enlarge its orca whale tank BUT (Bochco condition) prohibited captive breeding, artificial insemination, the sale, trade or transfer of any orca in captivity (exceptions for health of animal or rescue animals.) Commissioner Bochco's amendment carried 11-1 (Cox dissenting), and with the amendment added, the Commission approved the permit without dissent. Commissioner [and LB Councilman] Roberto Uranga was present and voted "yes" without comment.
Among those present at the October 8, 2015 Long Beach hearing (which stretched from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) were Ann Cantrell (didn't get a chance to speak) and Gordana Kajer. LBREPORT.com also learned and reported that Long Beach environmental and wetlands advocate Elizabeth Lambe (who is separately the Exec. Dir. of the Los Cerritos Wetland Land Trust) had been working in her personal capacity since at least September with former Coastal Commission member Sara Wan and others on the advocacy strategy that prevailed.
