Should marine mammals be kept in captivity?
Many people think that marine mammals should remain in captivity. Captivity shortens animal life spans, not increases them. Wild dolphins can live 40 years in the wild and orcas can live 90 years, but when held in captivity they rarely survive their teens. Twenty-three out of 25 orcas have died in captivity.
What did the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 accomplish?
The Marine Mammal Protection Act generally prohibits the “take” of marine mammals—including harassment, hunting, capturing, collecting, or killing—in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens on the high seas.
What does the Marine Mammal Protection Act state?
The MMPA prohibits the taking and importation of marine mammals and marine mammal products, where “take” means to harass, feed, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal, or to attempt to do so.
Who enforces the Marine Mammal Protection Act?
NOAA Fisheries
How are protections for marine mammals enforced? NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement encourages compliance with and enforces all of the marine statutes and regulations for which NOAA Fisheries is responsible, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Is it cruel to keep dolphins in captivity?
Dolphins are perfectly evolved to live and flourish in their wild ocean home, not within the confines of a human-made concrete tank or artificial lagoon. Captive dolphins also face exposure to human infection, bacteria and chemicals and suffer from stress-related illnesses.
What happens to marine animals in captivity?
Captive marine mammals suffer from a huge range of health problems, including extreme stress, neurotic behaviors and abnormal levels of aggression. Bottlenose dolphins are six times more likely to die immediately after capture from the wild and transfer between facilities.
Do marine animals have rights?
Under the declaration of rights for cetaceans, a term that includes dolphins, whales and porpoises, the animals would be protected as “non-human persons” and have a legally enforceable right to life.
Are whales protected by laws?
Under United States law, all species of whales are protected by two federal laws, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. In 1972, the United States Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Are killer whales in captivity?
There are currently 59 orcas in captivity at sea parks and aquariums throughout the world. Some are wild-caught; some were born in captivity. A third of the world’s captive orcas are in the United States, and all but one of those live at SeaWorld’s three parks in Orlando, San Diego, and San Antonio.
Is it legal to capture dolphins?
Isn’t it illegal to capture dolphins from the wild in the United States? No. There is a widespread belief that it is illegal to capture wild dolphins in the U.S. However, even though no permits have been granted for captures since 1989, it is still legal to capture dolphins.
Marine mammals in captivity. The public display industry keeps many species of marine mammals captive in concrete tanks, especially whales and dolphins. The Humane Society of the United States believes that these animals are best seen in their natural coastal and ocean environments instead of being held captive simply to entertain people.
What is the future of captive marine mammals?
The future of captive marine mammals is sanctuary—authentic sanctuaries that offer more natural surroundings and a retirement from performance. Several seaside sanctuary projects are underway and will be operational within the next three years.
Should marine mammals be protected in bare tanks?
The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats. Marine mammals are best protected by cleaning up and protecting their habitats.
What is the Humane Society of the United States saying about captivity?
The monotonous, confined life of animals in captivity is a mere shadow of what life was like for them in the wild. The Humane Society of the United States believes that animals in bare tanks do not present a realistic image of natural behaviors or natural habitats.