Members of Congress Call on USDA to Act to Protect Captive Orcas and Marine Mammals

Press Release

Today, Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and 38 members of Congress called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take immediate steps to ensure the humane treatment of captive orcas and marine mammals. In a bipartisan letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the members of Congress urged the USDA to immediately update Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations for captive marine mammals, which have not been updated since 1995.

"Sound, modern science should inform our regulations on marine mammal captivity," said Huffman and Schiff. "Unfortunately, USDA has refused to act for nearly two decades, endangering humans and orcas alike. It's unacceptable that our regulations protecting orcas and other marine mammals have not been updated to reflect the latest science. It is past time for USDA to address this issue."

The documentary film Blackfish drew public attention to the need to protect captive orcas and ensure they are treated humanely. The documentary argues that keeping orcas in captivity and regularly requiring them to perform for the public is cruel and causes enormous physical and psychological pain.

In 2002, USDA sought public comment on an update to captive marine mammal standards for indoor facilities, outdoor facilities, water quality, space requirements, and swim-with-the-dolphin programs. During the public comment period, USDA received numerous comments from the animal exhibitor industry, animal welfare groups, the scientific community, and the general public, recommending changes to tank sizes and otherwise improving facilities for marine mammals. Yet twelve years later, USDA still has not finalized these regulations.

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