End Whale Captivity in the United States

The United States has a dark history of keeping whales and other marine mammals in captivity where many of these highly intelligent, family oriented animals have suffered lifetimes of abuse, isolation and misery on display in small aquarium tanks or forced to perform tricks for the public in marine parks.

Thankfully an important bill, the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act, that seeks to phase out the keeping of large whales in captivity in the United States has recently been reintroduced in congress by Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The legislation would outlaw the captive display of four large marine animal species currently held in theme parks and aquariums. These are orcas (also known as killer whales), pilot whales, false killer whales, and beluga whales.

The bill is a natural response to a shift in public opinion on the ethics of keeping marine mammals in captivity that was catalyzed by the release of the documentary Blackfish in 2013 which exposed on a global scale the tragic story of SeaWorld’s captive orca Tilikum, who suffered cruel and inhumane treatment in captivity.

Opposition to marine parks has grown rapidly in the past ten years as more stories of animal abuse in these establishments have come to light. The recent death of Tokitae, the world’s oldest captive orca, at Miami’s Seaquarium reignited the movement to free captive whales and has kept pressure on lawmakers to do the right thing for these majestic animals.

There are around 50 whales currently held captive in the United States and although this new bill would not set these animals free it would prevent any future whales from falling victim to this same fate. The law would also formally ban the capture of wild whales and the import of wild caught whales to the United States.

In 2019 Canada passed a similar law known as the “Free Willy” bill which outlawed the trade, possession, capture, and breeding of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The bill effectively ended the unnatural practice of using cetaceans for entertainment or keeping them in captivity in the country.

Now the United States has the opportunity to do the right thing as well by ensuring the dark history of captive whales in America comes to an end once and for all.

Please join Species Unite in urging congress to pass the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act.

Further Action:

Please also consider reaching out to your congressional representative about this bill. You can use this link to find your Congressperson. Simply type in your zip code and your state representatives will appear, go to the bottom of the list of photos until you see the one that says “representative” and click on the contact link. This will take you to their individual contact page where you can fill out an online form asking them to support the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act. You can send a note as simple as:

Dear Representative [INSERT NAME],

I am your constituent, and I am requesting that you become a co-sponsor on the Strengthening Welfare in Marine Settings (SWIMS) Act. Whales should not be forced to suffer in captivity for our entertainment. Please do your part to help get this bill passed.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]