California will no longer allow the reproduction of captive orcas as those used in the famous SeaWorld Shamu shows.
A measure signed Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, after the California legislature passed the bill, SB839, last month.
The measure requires SeaWorld to go ahead with his plan to end the orca breeding and entertainment shows. The company currently has 10 orcas in the park in San Diego.
SeaWorld announced in March that it was no longer breeding orcas and whales would stop making do tricks in their amusement parks.
The move comes after the company beleaguered entertainment promised to stop orcas or killer whales, captive breeding, amid criticism from rights groups of animals and the negative publicity linked to the documentary film ‘Fish Black “.
The company pledged last year to replace its signature Shamu killer whale show in San Diego with modified animal presentations that focused on conservation.
Sea World Entertainment Inc, which operates marine parks in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio, has a total of 29 orcas, including six on loan to a park in Spain.
Five of them were captured in the wild, but has not captured orcas at sea for almost 40 years.
The parks have been criticized for their treatment of marine mammals in captivity, with some activists seeking to public exposure of killer whales completely.
Criticism intensified after three orcas in SeaWorld San Antonio died within a period of six months in 2015.
SeaWorld has also said it will abandon its plans for a $ 100 million project called “Blue World ‘to expand its orca habitat 7 million gallons at Sea World San Diego.
SeaWorld representative could not be reached for comment on the governor to sign the bill on Tuesday.
Brown’s decision to sign the bill was received by the group of animal rights People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which had pushed hard for the ban orcas captive breeding, and opposed SeaWorld’s shows.
“Future generations of orcas will not endure deprivation, stress and frustration of being trapped in a small concrete tank,” said Vice President Tracy Reiman PETA said in a statement.
Democratic Assemblyman Richard Bloom of Santa Monica was the author of the project and Brown welcomed the decision to sign the law on Twitter on Tuesday night.
“Very pleased to announce that my law that protects #orca captive breeding in California was signed by @JerryBrownGov today,” he wrote.
In March, the company announced its plans to focus on educational opportunities with their existing whales.
“These presentations reflect the natural world and will focus on research, education, care and respect that align with our mission to promote the welfare and conservation of these beautiful creatures,” the company said.
Orca new screens will begin next year in San Diego SeaWorld park, before expanding its other two parks in 2019.
A provision of SB839 makes it a crime for an individual or corporation to raise orcas in captivity, punishable by a fine of up to $ 100,000.
