Captures of wild orcas for sale to facilities to display them for entertainment or performance purposes began in Washington in 1964. The period in the 1960s and 1970s when orcas were frequently captured in Puget Sound for sale to captive display facilities is a troubling era in Washington’s history. House Bill 2888 allows Washington to make a powerful statement to the nation and the world that this era is over and that it is committed to ensuring it never returns to the state.

The cetacean species typically held in captivity are wide-ranging, deep-diving, long-lived, intelligent, highly social predators. Analysis of mammal species held in zoos and aquariums indicates that these characteristics result in extremely poor adaptation to confinement. Compared to wildlife species with small home ranges, captive cetaceans, particularly the larger species such as orcas and belugas, demonstrate poor survival rates, birth rates, and high occurrences of neurotic behaviors.

This bill would prohibit holding cetaceans in captivity for performance or entertainment purposes. Displaying captive cetaceans in strictly educational exhibits, with no performances, would not be prohibited and neither would the holding of a cetacean for scientific purposes. Right now in the United States there are a large number of whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity in facilities such as Georgia Aquarium, SeaWorld, and Miami Seaquarium. By supporting this bill you will be sending a message to anyone holding a cetacean that this practice will no longer be tolerated.

Washington does not currently have any captive cetaceans. However, it has held cetaceans in the past for performance and entertainment and this bill would prevent this practice from being revived in the state. Many states and countries worldwide have passed legislation banning cetacean captivity, and Washington state needs to let the public know that it does not and will not support this inhumane practice.