End of cetacean captivity?

In 1996, Lifeforce campaigned for the Cetacean Bylaw that was supposed to have phase out the captivity of cetaceans. However, in later years, the Vancouver Aquarium (VA) and the NPA made amendments that perpetuated captivity.

5 reasons to end captivity now!

1. The Aquarium will build more pools by 2019.

More pools mean more captives. This expansion plan is an 11 year old plan from 2006. The Aquarium should apply for a new building permit and permission with their new captivity plans clearly defined! Any expansion approval does not exclude them from a cetacean ban!

2. The Aquarium will spend $20 million dollars on the whale pools.

Most of the money for ongoing expansions has been from Federal and Provincial governments. Private donors include a mining company that has been fined for several environmental pollution violations.

They will seek more government funding for experiments on the captives. That will take time and funding away from important field studies that truly help save wildlife!

3. The Aquarium will import up to 5 belugas in spite of not knowing why the last 2 belugas died. 

In addition, 52 cetaceans have died as a result of their pro captivity business in the 52 years since they started cetacean imprisonment.

4. The Aquarium may end beluga captivity by 2029.

However, the Aquarium would fill the pools with various species as "rescues" from "Canadian shores" that will perpetuate the cetacean captivity. For decades the claims “not suited for release” have been free sources for aquariums and zoos worldwide.

Organizations worldwide do not need to practice on captives for rescue work. And there are many examples of
the “untrained” concerned citizens saving cetaceans. Saving human lives on the mountains do not require human prisoners.

5. The Aquarium will rebrand themselves as a “wildlife rescue centre” to continue their entertainment and research business.

First, a noisy public tourist attraction with year round parties is not the proper secluded hospital environment that is necessary for medical recovery in a wildlife centre. The space requirements also cannot be met. The Aquarium can use their offsite non-public locations that could include sea pens and DFO locations.

In the rare event of large cetaceans in need of help there are government agencies, organizations, and others that would lead.

The BC Provincial Lab does the necropsies. The Animal Health Centre provides world class veterinary diagnostic services that protect the health of all animals in B.C. to support disease prevention, control and eradication. They have determined all captive deaths for decades too.

The Aquarium would continue in their other locations such as the Main Street centre, Popham Island research centre (if still available), and the many DFO stations on Vancouver Island and in West Vancouver (http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/locations-bureaux-eng.html).

The Vancouver Aquarium site is not needed.

Secondly, the Aquarium plans are to combine entertainment with experiments on the captives and "rescues" as “untapped resources and tools” for lucrative jobs under the guise of conservation. Experiments could include implanting tracking and medical devices that has caused major infections during other experiments.

They are presently doing beluga bioacoustics studies in the wild in addition to many other organizations. The Vancouver Aquarium also has belugas in experiments at the Spanish Oceanographic aquarium that is under the management of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Belugas communication started in 1947 and beluga diet/pollution 1970s lead to a sanctuary in the St. Lawrence. Since the 90s the population has increased from 500 to 800.

In 2007 a meeting was held at the VA to look at ways to get use captives and “rescues” as untapped resources. Their report was titled “Marine Mammals in the Lab: Tools for Conservation and Science”. It was hosted by UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit, Vancouver Aquarium, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The US Navy also attended.

The report actually revealed the industry’s own concerns over the many problems with experiments on captives. They stated that in many ways it does not represent life in the wild. The report included photos of some experimental procedures but is only a glimpse behind the closed doors of animal research laboratories. There was also a photo of an Aquarium employee lying in the sea lion restraint device while 2 sea lions are made to stand posing on each side. Are they joking about their “tools for conservation and science.”?

They also discussed how to deal with animal protection groups.

Studies would continue but not on captives at the Vancouver Aquarium. The Parks Board would not be hampering any so call “conservation” studies.

The Facts of Wildlife:

1. There are countless wildlife deaths in their natural homes. That is far more humane than them dying in transport, not recovering after months in an alien prison, being subjected to experiments, and/or kept as part of the aquarium/zoo international animal trade.

2. Euthanasia is part of the operating policies of wildlife rescue organizations. There are worldwide accepted procedures to euthanize stranded, injured and other cetaceans. There are not enough pools and cages in the for all the wildlife cases.

The End?

The aquarium and zoo circuses are part of the problems not the solutions. They cannot provide the physical and psychological necessities of cetacean life and will never teach people about their lives in the wild.

Since 1981, Lifeforce has fought for cetacean freedom through all of the Vancouver Aquarium expansions that has always meant more pools and more captives. Now after 52 cetacean deaths in 52 years of cetacean captivity it is time to end the suffering!

This is a crucial time as the Aquarium has only 3 cetaceans left – a False killer whale, a Pacific white-sided dolphin, and a Harbour porpoise. Five cetaceans died between 2015 and 2016. The plan to built more pools and get more cetaceans must be stopped!

As Canada looks at a nationwide cetacean ban the Vancouver Parks Board decision could be a historic breakthrough for dolphin freedom. Get the truth from those without vested interests.

Vancouver stopped wild animal acts in circuses. Vancouver closed the Stanley Park Zoo. Cetaceans must not wait for a referendum, must not wait for a Canada wide ban, and must not suffer from more Aquarium broken promises.

The Cetacean Bylaw is the only way to end the suffering. A Bylaw review was supposed to have been conducted in 2015. It is time to make amendments to guarantee the rights and freedoms of cetaceans.

If people are against capturing and imprisoning wild cetaceans then they should also be against capturing frightened, sick, and injured wild cetaceans for any life sentence in a pool prison.

Peter Hamilton
Lifeforce Founder