The downright exploitation of inferior species for the purpose of financial gain

1. Are whales only being held captive in North America or around the world as well?

1.1. The issue of marine animals being held in captivity is definitely not a local or even national issue in scope. It is undeniably true that marine animals as well as so many other types of animals all around the world, are being held in captivity in order for humans to financially profit off of them. This is perfectly put in the quote that follows: “There are currently 59 orcas in captivity at sea parks and aquariums throughout the world” (Daly 2).

2. What effects does the capturing of whales have on wild whale pods?

2.1. -"High-speed boat chases, violent beatings, stress, death and kidnapping; the wild capture of whales and dolphins is brutal. Many are targeted and many are killed or injured"(McCormick 1).

2.2. -"The damage done is not only to the pod itself, but also the entire endangered whale population as a whole"(McCormick 2).

2.3. -"The removal of young from the pod can lead to the entire group dispersing as their natural cohesion is turned upside down, leaving them struggling to find food and becoming more vulnerable to predation"(McCormick 3).

3. What do the living conditions of these whales look like?

3.1. In the wild, killer whales normally dive nearly 1,000 feet and may travel up to 140 miles every day. This is huge compared to the tiny cages that house them at SeaWorld: "which range from only 8 to 34 feet in depth and are roughly 170 feet long" (Whipell 1).

4. What psychological and physical effects does captivity have on whales?

4.1. Yes, research shows that in the majority of cases, marine animals undergo moderate to severe psychological damage in their transition from the wild to a captive environment. This is evidenced by the following: “Not only do these amazing sentient beings suffer major psychological trauma but they also typically have broken teeth because they bite on the steel gates that are used to separate them and suffer from dorsal fin collapse from endlessly swimming in circles” (Bekoff 1).

5. What is the government doing to regulate this?

5.1. "The primary laws governing the facilities housing orca whales are the Animal Welfare Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act"(Tierney 1).

5.2. "The Animal Welfare Act establishes standards and specifications that the facility must follow and adhere to in order to house an orca whale in captivity. It establishes the standard of care required when handling, housing, or transporting orca whales and other marine mammals"(Tierney 2).

5.3. "The Marine Mammal Protection Act is aimed at protecting the whales from being unlawfully captured from the wild by prohibiting the taking of marine mammals without specific authorization. The MMPA requires a permit for the taking of a marine mammal, like an orca, from the wild. Permits may be issued for reasons such as for scientific research, public display, or for enhancing the survival or recovery of specific stocks"(Tierney 2).