SeaWorld San Diego will contest breeding ban

Monday, 19 Oct, 2015 0

SeaWorld said it will go ahead and challenge a state ruling banning the breeding of captive killer whales at its San Diego park.

The company plans to fight a ruling by the California Coastal Commission, which approved a $100 million expansion of its tanks at the park, but only if it scraps its breeding program.

Seaworld will ‘pursue legal action,’ says CEO Joel Manby.

"The Coastal Commission went way beyond its jurisdiction and authority when it banned breeding by killer whales at SeaWorld," a statement by Manby said.

"By imposing broad new jurisdiction over all future SeaWorld marine animal projects, as well as aquarium projects elsewhere in the state, the commission has overstepped both federal and California law."

Jared Goodman, an attorney with People from the Ethical Treatment said the agency had the legal authority to act.

"SeaWorld is blowing smoke. The Commission acted fully within its authority when, as a condition of its approval of building new tanks, it placed a ban on breeding orcas," Goodman said.

Manby said the commissioners were not qualified to make such a decision as they ‘have no education, training or expertise’ in marine breeding programs.

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