Email the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Shelby Proie
Shelby Proie
Seattle, WA, United StatesCreated July 6, 2008

Email the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Seattle, WA, United States
Created July 6, 2008

The Issue

Please lobby the authorities listed, and if you are a US campaigner, hassle them at their park gates regularly with flyers and banners, they don't like that! Email the following: National Marine Fisheries Service. Ask why they continually allow Miami Sea Aquarium to operate when it is sub-standard to their own laws. Email Ann.Terbush@noaa.gov and babara.a.kohn@usda.gov.

APHIS Regulations: 9 C.F.R. Sec. 3.104 - Space Requirements -
The primary enclosure for a Killer whale (Orcinus orca) must have a minimum horizontal dimension of no less than 48 ft. in either direction with a straight line of travel across the center. According to the Animal Welfare Act and APHIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the primary enclosure for a whale Lolita's size must be a minimum of 48 feet wide in either direction with a straight line of travel across the middle. Lolita's tank is a mere 35 feet from the front wall to the slide out barrier. At its deepest point in the center the tank is only 20 feet deep.

In 1995 the Humane Society of the United States filed a formal complaint against the Seaquarium regarding the substandard size of Lolita's tank. Luckily, The Animal Plant and Health Service (APHIS) turned a cold shoulder. "The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) should be called the Marine Mammal PARK Protection Act, because that's who it protects." ~Cetacean specialist Ric O'Barry. The Seaquarium has been promising the public a new larger tank for Lolita since 1978 - That's 30 years.

Here's the model we've been dragging around for twenty years according to former dolphin trainer Russ Rector. We use it from time to time to quiet the critics.  Now
it is impossiable to build another tank because it is not allowed by the Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce.

avatar of the starter
Shelby ProiePetition StarterI'm a crazy student at Nova South Eastern University studying environmental science, marine science, and psychology. I'm very passionate about freeing Lolita, the Orca that has been on display at the Miami SeaPrison for close to 40 years. I have started a weekly beach cleanup in my town of Surfside and am determined to make this world a better place. For more information please visit my myspace at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/saveouroceansnow" rel="nofollow">www.myspace.com/saveouroceansnow</a> or email me at saveouroceansnow@gmail.com. Some great links are <a href="http://www.orcanetwork.org" rel="nofollow">www.orcanetwork.org</a>, <a href="http://www.miamiseaprison.com" rel="nofollow">www.miamiseaprison.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.savejapandolphins.org" rel="nofollow">www.savejapandolphins.org</a>.
This petition had 92 supporters

The Issue

Please lobby the authorities listed, and if you are a US campaigner, hassle them at their park gates regularly with flyers and banners, they don't like that! Email the following: National Marine Fisheries Service. Ask why they continually allow Miami Sea Aquarium to operate when it is sub-standard to their own laws. Email Ann.Terbush@noaa.gov and babara.a.kohn@usda.gov.

APHIS Regulations: 9 C.F.R. Sec. 3.104 - Space Requirements -
The primary enclosure for a Killer whale (Orcinus orca) must have a minimum horizontal dimension of no less than 48 ft. in either direction with a straight line of travel across the center. According to the Animal Welfare Act and APHIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the primary enclosure for a whale Lolita's size must be a minimum of 48 feet wide in either direction with a straight line of travel across the middle. Lolita's tank is a mere 35 feet from the front wall to the slide out barrier. At its deepest point in the center the tank is only 20 feet deep.

In 1995 the Humane Society of the United States filed a formal complaint against the Seaquarium regarding the substandard size of Lolita's tank. Luckily, The Animal Plant and Health Service (APHIS) turned a cold shoulder. "The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) should be called the Marine Mammal PARK Protection Act, because that's who it protects." ~Cetacean specialist Ric O'Barry. The Seaquarium has been promising the public a new larger tank for Lolita since 1978 - That's 30 years.

Here's the model we've been dragging around for twenty years according to former dolphin trainer Russ Rector. We use it from time to time to quiet the critics.  Now
it is impossiable to build another tank because it is not allowed by the Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce.

avatar of the starter
Shelby ProiePetition StarterI'm a crazy student at Nova South Eastern University studying environmental science, marine science, and psychology. I'm very passionate about freeing Lolita, the Orca that has been on display at the Miami SeaPrison for close to 40 years. I have started a weekly beach cleanup in my town of Surfside and am determined to make this world a better place. For more information please visit my myspace at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/saveouroceansnow" rel="nofollow">www.myspace.com/saveouroceansnow</a> or email me at saveouroceansnow@gmail.com. Some great links are <a href="http://www.orcanetwork.org" rel="nofollow">www.orcanetwork.org</a>, <a href="http://www.miamiseaprison.com" rel="nofollow">www.miamiseaprison.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.savejapandolphins.org" rel="nofollow">www.savejapandolphins.org</a>.

The Decision Makers

Ann Terbush
Ann Terbush
Babara Kohn
Babara Kohn
Cindy Smith
Cindy Smith

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Petition created on July 6, 2008