Page 28 - Minister Alex Schwengle
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SCIENCESaturday 26 September
Report recommends expanding SeaWorld killer whale tanks
JULIE WATSON agree to those conditions
Associated Press and has not collected a
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A state killer whale in more than 35
government report re- years. About 80 percent of
leased Friday recommends the killer whales in its care
allowing SeaWorld to ex- were born at SeaWorld
pand its killer whale facility parks or other zoos.
at its San Diego park, out- The project, called “Blue
raging environmentalists World,” would open in 2018
who say the larger tanks if approved. SeaWorld also
could be used to breed has promised to fund addi-
more orcas to be kept in tional research on the ani-
captivity. mals along with programs
to protect ocean health
The staff of the Califor- and whales in the wild.
The company, based in Or-
nia Coastal Commission lando, Florida, said the ren-
ovations had been in the
made the recommenda- works for some time and
were not in response to the
tions ahead of the regula- documentary “Blackfish.”
The company’s stock has
tory board’s Oct. 8 meet- fallen 50 percent over the
past two years, and atten-
ing where it is scheduled to dance at the original Sea-
World, in San Diego, has
vote on SeaWorld’s permit lagged behind its other
theme parks. Legislators in
request for the expansion. California also proposed
banning performances
The staff recommends at- featuring orcas, which kept
criticism of SeaWorld in the
taching nine conditions news. The company has
blamed competition from
to the permit that include other theme parks for its
overall drop in attendance
requiring SeaWorld to not of about 2 percent.
SeaWorld says the animals
house newly captured or- In this Nov. 30, 2006, file photo, a group of onlookers watch through the glass as a killer whale are well treated and their
passes by while swimming in a display tank at SeaWorld in San Diego. shows help garner support
cas at its San Diego loca- for conservation and re-
Associated Press search.
tion. The company sent the
used by SeaWorld to breed pool. In its place would be tion, with the exception of commission tens of thou-
Tens of thousands of peo- sands of post cards from
more orcas. a 5.2 million gallon (20 mil- rescued killer whales ap- people supporting the
ple have written to the expansion of the killer
“This is not limiting them in lion liter) pool and a smaller proved by one or more whale environment.q
commission in opposition
any way. In fact, this would 450,000 gallon (1.7 million government agencies for
of the plans, calling the
do the opposite,” said Sara liter) pool. There would be rehabilitation or deemed
expansion a marketing Wan, a former commis- no changes to seating at by one or more govern-
sioner who now works as a the existing stadium. Sea- mental agencies as unfit for
ploy to boost its plummet- consultant for the Animal World says in its proposal release into the wild.
ing marine-theme park
attendance and not ad- Defense Legal Fund. “They that the orca population
dress their belief that orcas could breed all the orcas housed at the new facility It also could not use any
should not be in captiv- they want with this facility would not significantly in- genetic material from wild
ity at all. Attendance has and ship them all over the crease. whales caught after Feb-
dropped since the release world.” The nine conditions would ruary 2014. The conditions
of the popular 2013 docu- As part of its expansion, not restrict the breeding would only apply to its
SeaWorld proposes demol- program. Under the condi- San Diego park, since the
mentary “Blackfish,” which ishing portions of its 1995 tions, SeaWorld could not coastal commission only
“Shamu” killer whale facili- house any orcas captured has jurisdiction over that lo-
suggested SeaWorld’s
treatment of captive orcas
provokes violent behavior. ty, which included a 1.7 mil- in the wild after February cation.
Some environmentalists lion gallon (6.5 million liter) 2014 at its San Diego loca- SeaWorld says it would
fear the bigger tanks will be
