Orca tank expansion approved for SeaWorld San Diego

“The change does offer a possible discharge without a doubt whales discovered in the natural environment but it surely wasn’t promptly understandable no matter that often targeted against any of these orcas for the San Diego park”, the Access point incorporated in its describe. “But the Commission’s action today ensures that no more orcas will be condemned to a non-life of loneliness, deprivation, & misery”.

Animal rights activist Kirby Kotler, with his daughter Kirra, 12, from Malibu, Calif., holds up signs as opponents and supporters fill the room during a California Coastal Commission meeting, Thursday, October 8, 2015, in Long Beach, Calif. The commission is considering a vast expansion to the tanks that SeaWorld uses to hold killer whales in San Diego.

“The California Coastal Commission did right by orcas in requiring, as a condition of approval for the Blue World Project, that SeaWorld stop breeding them, which will ultimately end captivity for long-suffering orcas in California.” The amendment does provide an exception in the case of whales caught in the wild, but the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that SeaWorld says they haven’t captured a wild orca in 30 years.

SeaWorld issued a statement saying it was “disappointed” with the breeding condition and “will carefully review and consider our options”.

“SeaWorld’s tanks, regardless of size, deny these highly intelligent animals the social bonds, open space, freedom, and stimulation that they would have in their natural ocean homes”, said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.

But Commissioner Dayna Bochco, who brought up the no-breeding amendment, said she agreed with scientists who believe that the killer whales are suffering in captivity.

The embattled theme park has been facing continued public criticism and slumping in ticket sales since the airing of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which exposed the cruel treatment of SeaWorld’s captive orcas. The whales are enriched and stimulated, he said, not stressed or depressed.

Her sentiments were shared by Pamela Anderson.

As Thursday’s hours-long meeting dragged on, Reilly told the commission the park would be willing to accept a cap of 15 orcas but that banning breeding at the park would eventually lead to the “extinction” of the orca program. The anti-captivity community, and those who’ve watched Blackfish and now have strong feeling about orcas, are declaring a sort of victory. “Blue World is going to be a great enhancement to our habitat for whales, but also for researchers and guests”.

“These 11 orcas would be the last 11 orcas there”, PETA lawyer Jared Goodman said after the meeting, referring to the whales at the California marine park. In addition to banning breeding at SeaWorld San Diego, the coastal commission would ban the transfer of orcas between the San Diego park and other SeaWorld parks.