Children may not be able to see the killer whale shows at SeaWorld if a new California bill gets passed.
According to USA Today, the 2013 documentary Blackfish and its depiction of how orca whales and trainers are treated at the California aquarium caused some discussion of removing the show from the park.
California Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) recently proposed legislation banning the use of the species for performance use.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that this bill could ban the use of orcas during shows, ban captive breeding and prohibit the importing and exporting of whales. Orcas could still be shown in an aquarium setting, but the beloved performance would be cancelled.
David Koontz, a SeaWorld representative, said in a statement that he doesn’t agree with Bloom and criticized him associating with “extreme animal rights activists, many of whom regularly campaign against SeaWorld and other accredited marine mammal parks and institutions.”
“We engage in business practices that are responsible, sustainable and reflective of the balanced values all Americans share,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
