Another day, another sloppy attempt to hurt one of the world’s most respected zoological organizations.
On Friday afternoon in Southern California, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that he plans to introduce a bill that will phase out the public display of killer whales in the U.S.
While fans of the debunked film BlackFish might be rejoicing, they might be doing a double-take at this sloppy and far reaching legislation.
The proposed three page bill goes way beyond banning breeding, it puts research and conservation efforts in jeopardy.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no permit may be issued under this Act that authorizes the taking or importation of any marine mammal of the spe- cies Orcinus orca, or any marine mammal product that consists, or is composed in whole or in part, of such spe-cies, for the purpose of public display.
Read the full bill here Killer Whale Ban Legislation
That means that schools, museums and venues who have displayed killer whale skeletons or body parts could be in violation of the law.
This quick attempt to score political points not only puts insane restrictions on SeaWorld but now legislates artifacts that universities, schools, museums collect.
Beyond that, it will also forbid any research that could be conducted on wild killer whales that strand and are found dead – leaving researchers unable to determine the cause of death for killer whales found stranded
SeaWorld is a highly regulated organization that has been compliant with the federal agencies who oversee its parks. They have sought out additional accreditation from organizations like the Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).
AMMPA President Kathleen Dezio stated about the proposed legislation,
“Rep. Schiff’s legislation is wrong and would set a very dangerous precedent. If Congress prohibits zoos and aquariums from holding orcas today, which species will be next, and what impact will that have on conservation and education?
There are only a handful of facilities in the U.S. today where visitors have the opportunity to see orcas up close. Research on the orcas in these zoological institutions has taught us much of what we know today about these animals and provided the practical, hands-on skills that enable successful rescue and rehabilitation of cetaceans in the wild. This short-sighted bill would take away forever the opportunity to see these majestic animals up close, bring to an end the cutting-edge scientific research that is only possible with animals in human care, and jeopardize the voluntary rescue and rehabilitation work with large cetaceans done by aquariums, marine parks and zoos throughout the country.
This bill would also sacrifice for decades the welfare of the orcas currently in zoological institutions by disrupting the familial environments they now enjoy and forcing the separation of males and females.
Killer whales were once feared and even used as target practice. Today they are iconic animals that people love and want to protect. This change has come about because of the work of marine parks and aquariums that have displayed and educated people about them over the last 50 years. This should not be taken for
granted. Each generation can benefit from the opportunity to see these animals in person. Denied that opportunity, public attitudes could revert to what they were in the past.
As Rep. Schiff has himself acknowledged, the public display of animals in zoological settings can engage children, create respect for wildlife and contribute to scientific knowledge. Congress should support and not interfere with these important contributions.
We urge everyone to contact their representative and tell them that you support SeaWorld and accredited zoological facilities. This isn’t just a fight for SeaWorld, this is a fight for education, research and conservation!