SeaWorld Sues California Coastal Commission Following Ban on Captive Orca Breeding

Washington DC-The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is disappointed to learn that SeaWorld San Diego has filed a lawsuit against the State of California, challenging an October 8 decision by the California Coastal Commission (CCC).

SeaWorld filed the suit Tuesday in California Superior Court in San Diego, alleging that the state panel does not have the authority to impose a “no-breeding” condition on the construction project that would more than double the enclosure size for the park’s 11 killer whales.

In addition to banning any captive breeding, the ruling also prohibits the purchase, sale, or trade of whales at the facility.

SeaWorld announced last month they would end their whales shows at the park in San Diego after the majority of their visitors said they prefer seeing the orcas acting naturally instead of doing learned tricks.

Eight of SeaWorld’s 11 orcas are the result of captive breeding, the lawsuit said.

The complaint asks Court to either order the the restrictions be removed or order a new hearing of the “Blue World”, development proposal, without the restrictions on breeding and transfer.

SeaWorld’s lawsuit says the ban would effectively end its popular killer whale shows. “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”.

“The orcas are not, in any way, part of the coastal or marine environment”.

The spokesperson for the CCC said she couldn’t comment on the lawsuit but made it clear that the commission stands by its decision to protect the orcas.

“The condition forces SeaWorld to either agree to the eventual demise of its lawful and federally regulated orca exhibition, or withdraw the permit application and forego the effort to enhance the orcas’ habitat”, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc attorneys said.

“The Coastal Commission process became unhinged”, the complaint stated. According to the group, it was obvious that the intention behind the Blue World project was to confine the extended tanks by breeding the orcas. “Animal rights activists appeared at the Coastal Commission hearing and vilified SeaWorld in their “testimony”.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which had fought SeaWorld’s tank expansion, issued a statement supporting the California Coastal Commission’s decision.

The shows will continue at SeaWorld’s Orlando and San Antonio parks.