Keep Dolphins and Whales Out of Captivity
Updated May 2007

As part of our new campaign with Marine Connection calling for a prohibition on the keeping of dolphins and whales in captivity in the UK we have set up a new on-line petition.

If you are a UK resident (or an expatriate, in an overseas territory, a Crown dependency or in the Armed Forces) you can sign the petition on the government's on-line petition website.

Please take a couple of minutes and add your support to this important campaign.

Click here to sign the petition.

Original article from April 2007

CAPS patron Mike Hancock MP (Lib Dem, Portsmouth South), has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 1342, Keeping of Cetaceans in Captivity) calling on the government to introduce legislation prohibiting the keeping of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in captivity.

While the last dolphinarium in the UK closed down in 1993, there is nothing to prevent a new one setting up if a company were able to meet existing guidelines. Recent events have highlighted the possibility of a UK establishment considering keeping cetaceans in captivity. In particular, it was announced in March 2007 that Blackpool Zoo has been purchased by Spanish-based company Parques Reunidos which operates dolphinariums in Spain, France and Argentina. Other companies with UK establishments have overseas sections that keep captive cetaceans.

This of course is of great concern and for over a year, questions have been raised within DEFRA (Department of Environment) and its advisory body, the Zoos Forum, regarding current legislation in the UK relating to captive cetacean establishments. This follows an inquiry from an individual interested in establishing a marine park in England to keep whales and dolphins.

Campaigners and NGOs concerned with animal protection, including the Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS), Marine Connection and Cetacea Defence have long highlighted the cruelty of keeping cetaceans in captivity and continued captures from the wild to supply these facilities. Their life in captivity has been likened to living in a hall of mirrors which restricts their sonar communication and particularly cruel due to their nature as intelligent social animals, used to ranging vast areas in the wild.

The closure of the last dolphinarium came about due to the introduction of UK regulations on captive cetacean facilities which existing facilities could not meet and concerted efforts by anti-captivity campaigners. Organisations such as CAPS, Marine Connection and Cetacea Defence have worked hard to discourage tourists from visiting such places on overseas holidays, including the dangerous and scientifically-unsound swimming with dolphins programmes.

CAPS, Marine Connection and Cetacea Defence believe that legislation clearly prohibiting the keeping of cetaceans in captivity within the UK needs to be introduced as a matter of urgency in order to prevent such facilities being established. 

For more information on the campaign to keep wildlife in the wild, see the following websites:

• www.marineconnection.org/campaigns/captivity.html
• www.captiveanimals.org/aquarium/index.htm
• www.cetaceadefence.org

How you can help:

	Please ask your MP to sign this important EDM (wording below).
	To check if your MP has signed the EDM, click here
	If you do not know who your MP is, click here ( You can also send an e-mail direct to your MP from this website)
	If you would prefer to send a letter to your MP by post, all MPs can be contacted at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
	If your MP has already signed the EDM, write and thank them for their support.
	If you are a UK resident (or an expatriate, in an overseas territory, a Crown dependency or in the Armed Forces) click here to sign our petition.
	Tell others about this EDM and how they can contact their MP.
	Don't visit any captive animal facility such as dolphinariums
	Encourage friends and family to avoid such places
	Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference.

EDM 1342, Keeping of Cetaceans in Captivity

That this House welcomes the fact that no cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) have been kept in captivity in the UK since 1993, but is concerned that there is no legislation to prevent these animals being housed in captive facilities within the UK in the future; notes that cetaceans are intelligent, social animals with complex needs which cannot be met in captivity and that there is evidence to suggest that captivity causes serious physical and behavioural welfare problems, and that many cetaceans are still taken from the wild to supply captive facilities; furthermore, notes with concern the involvement of companies in the UK with overseas establishments which keep cetaceans in captivity; and calls on the Government to introduce legislation specifically prohibiting the keeping of cetaceans in captivity other than in cases which involve short-term rehabilitation with a view to a release back to the wild in the case of injured cetaceans.