SeaWorld Is Suing Over The Ban On It Breeding Orca Whales

The California Coastal Commission imposed the ban on October 8, after it approved SeaWorld’s $100 million orca tank expansion plan.

SeaWorld San Diego’s parent company announced Thursday it will challenge the California Coastal Commission’s ban on breeding killer whales at the park. But the conditions it placed last week on SeaWorld’s application to build a bigger orca tank went way beyond its past actions, and beyond its very reasons for existing: to protect the coastal and marine environment and ensure coastal access and recreation.

“It simply defies common sense that a straightforward land-use permit approval would turn into a ban on animal husbandry practices – an area in which the Commissioners have no education, training or expertise”, added Manby.

SeaWorld Entertainment did not say when the lawsuit would be filed.

Animal welfare is governed by federal and state laws that do not fall within the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission’s appointed board, the company said. “We were faced with making our decision in a regulatory vacuum”. The film blames SeaWorld for causing one killer whale, Tilikum, to become a psychotic killer.

“Although the Coastal Act focuses on protecting open spaces and wildlife in their native state, it contains no limiting language that excludes captive wildlife”, said Jared Goodman, PETA foundation director of animal law, in a statement.

Professor George Belch of the San Diego State University said that the necessity to restore the good name of its brand could be what prompted SeaWorld to pursue legal action on this matter.

SeaWorld recently not to increase its orca population by means other than occasional captive births or government-authorized rescues. The commission also restricted the transporting of the whales in and out of the park.

SeaWorld also pledged that the facility would not house any orcas taken from the wild after February12, 2014, nor utilize killer whale genetic material taken from the wild after the same date.

Attendance at the California park has declined since the release of the popular documentary “Blackfish” in 2013, which suggests SeaWorld’s treatment of captive orcas provokes violent behavior. Bochco insisted that the decision “was not a power grab”.