This article, that first appeared in The San Diego Tribune, gives an excellent analysis of the Coastal Commission's decision to place breeding and movement restrictions on SeaWorld's Blue World building permit. To read more about SeaWorld's lawsuit against the Commission, see here.
Last week SeaWorld filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by the California Coastal Commission that would phase out its controversial killer whale displays at the San Diego theme park over the next 40 years. SeaWorld claims the state agency overstepped its authority. It has not.
Theme park officials came to the commission in October for permission to expand its killer whale tank. The agency agreed to the expansion, but limited the facility’s use to the current captive whale population at the park.
That limitation is consistent with the commission’s mandate to protect coastal public trust resources, including marine mammals, and to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of marine ecosystems. In fact, the Coastal Act requires extra protection for “species of special biological significance” such as orcas.