Cetacean Liberation: Canada Bans Captive Sea Mammals

Canada’s Parliament recently passed legislation banning the practice of breeding and keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity. Violations are punishable by fines of up to $150,000. While celebrated by animal rights activists, the bill doesn’t free marine mammals currently in captivity, those being rescued and rehabilitated, or those being kept for the purposes of licensed scientific research. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the measure would especially impact Marineland, the Niagara Falls, Ontario, amusement park and zoo that has 55 beluga whales, five bottlenose dolphins and one orca, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Marineland said it will comply with the legislation.