Vote ends captive whale breeding at Seaworld San Diego

According to Casper Star-Tribune Online, the same commission that issued the permit for expansion has denied a request to use the larger tanks for breeding purposes.

“Depriving these social animals of the natural and fundamental right to reproduce is inhumane and we do not support this condition”, Manby added in his statement. 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.

“Blackfish” claims that whales in captivity become bored in their sterile environment which makes them aggressive towards their human trainers.

Among the critics was actress Pamela Anderson.

SeaWorld has come under fire for its treatment of the animals in captivity.

For Seaworld, that means the amendment could effectively and eventually eliminate their #1 attraction at their San Diego park.

The commission’s decision might complicate SeaWorld’s future plans, but doesn’t spell the company’s demise, said James Hardiman, equity research analyst and managing director at Wedbush Securities.

This ban wouldn’t include other SeaWorld parks around the United States, Time reports.

Officials with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the decisions will “ultimately end captivity for long-suffering orcas in California”. The bans prompted Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to announce that it will retire all of its elephants.

SeaWorld’s negative press regarding orcas has been ongoing. However, it is giving SeaWorld $100 million to expand its tanks so the whales have more room to swim in.

SeaWorld has been struggling with lower park attendance and public criticism since the release of the 2013 documentary “Blackfish”, which suggested that SeaWorld was not treating the orcas well. Opponents accused SeaWorld of being motivated by a drive for bigger profits. “Not one whale is receiving anti-depressants”, he reportedly said. Nollens said of the project.

“These 11 orcas would be the last 11 orcas there,” PETA lawyer Jared Goodman told ABC News.

“These new tanks do not meet these basic requirements”, she said. “No tank ever will”. Though who’s to say, really?

Last month, coastal commission staff recommended approval of the project, but attached nine conditions, including requirements not to house any orcas taken from the wild after February 2014 and not to significantly increase the park’s captive population.

The Coastal Commission’s vote on Thursday was no exception, as testimony stretched on for more than eight hours. In it a whale known as Tilikum was responsible for the death of several persons during a live performance he was a part of.