SeaWorld has asked the state court to dismiss their lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission over a Commission decision to ban breeding of captive orcas in California. SeaWorld earlier had requested the Commission to withdraw their permit application to expand the orca tanks at SeaWorld San Diego, a project that triggered the Commission action.
On October 8th, 2015, the Commission overwhelmingly approved, by a vote of 12-1, an amendment to ban breeding and transfers of orcas into or out of SeaWorld San Diego. The International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute was one of hundreds of scientists, organizations, and individuals that testified in support of the Commission action. In response, SeaWorld sued the Commission.
“We are pleased that the Commission’s action to ban breeding of captive orcas has now been vindicated,” stated David Phillips, Director of IMMP. “SeaWorld bowed to public pressure and is now pursuing their own voluntary ban on breeding anymore orcas for captivity.”
“But,” Phillips added, “we believe SeaWorld should go further and retire all their orcas and dolphins to sea pen sanctuaries, where these animals can live out their lives outside of small concrete tanks they now inhabit. SeaWorld is still expanding facilities in San Antonio for swimming with captive dolphins. We are not done by any means with the issue of captive dolphins and whales.”
On Feb. 25th, IMMP filed papers to intervene in support of the Commission’s action to end orca captivity in California in the legal case brought by SeaWorld against the Commission. A hearing to seek dismissal of the case and allow Earth Island to intervene was scheduled for Friday, July 29th, in San Diego, but SeaWorld preemptively filed a motion to dismiss the case.
“Orcas don’t belong in captivity,” stated David Phillips. “They are too big, too intelligent, and too far-ranging to be put in small concrete tanks to perform circus tricks.”
“We support the California Coastal Commission findings to end all breeding, import, and transfers of captive orcas at SeaWorld San Diego,” stated Phillips. “It was a lawful, science-based and widely supported moral decision by the Commission and should be upheld by the courts.” Phillips further stated: “The State of California and the public should not be bullied by SeaWorld’s legal efforts to overturn the Coastal Commission’s decision.”
“At SeaWorld San Diego, highly social orcas are repeatedly removed from their mothers,” added Phillips. “In bare concrete tanks doing repetitive show tricks, captive orcas must work for their food, leading to depression, lowered immunity, and an early death in captivity.”
Earth Island’s IMMP is being represented pro-bono by the law firm of Covington & Burling.
Photo by Brooks Duncan.