Cetaceans like dolphins and whales will no longer be kept in Canadian aquariums after the government passed a bill that prohibits their captivity. The bill, S-203, was first proposed in 2015, and it was finally passed after three years of intense legislative battles. With the bill in effect, Canada has taken another step towards becoming more environmentally responsible.
The most uplifting thing about the bill is that there was support across the political parties. This means that environmental issues are not subject to party politics, and everyone is determined to take better care of our environment. Environmental issues shouldn’t be subject to party politics because, in the end, we all live on the same planet.
Bill S-203 bans the breeding of dolphins and whales in captivity, and it amends the current criminal code to include this as a crime. This means that Canadian marine parks like Marineland can still keep any cetaceans currently under their care, but they cannot breed a new generation or capture more in the wild. The bill also prohibits the importing of cetacean sperm, tissues, or embryos. The goal is to slowly phase out the practice of keeping dolphins and whales in captivity, and the government wants to discourage any further practices of the sort.