Cetacean Sanctuaries The Vancouver Aquarium vet is tossing out more red herring to the public in another wave of fear-mongering and false claims. It is important that we know how to counter-argue their blatant pro-captivity propaganda. The problems Dr. Haulena (Aquarium vet) raises in the media are not realistic, or they apply to the challenges of holding whale and dolphins in concrete tanks, but seapen care does not present those problems. AQUARIUM: "You have no environmental control," he said."You cannot control for harmful algal blooms. You cannot control for anomalous water temperature changes, such as the "Warm Blob" (that was) responsible for killing hundreds of marine mammals in 2014 and 2015. You cannot protect from oil spills." A marine environment doesn't need to be controlled. It's a microcosm of the ocean in the region. If the water is normally free of harmful algal blooms, there's no need to control for them. The whales, in proportion to the overall environment, will have no significant effect. The Warm Blob would have no discernable effect on water quality either, even if the the water temp rises a degree or two. If oil is spilled nearby the cove can and would be protected by booms, though a catastrophic spill needs to be prevented, not planned for. Haulena also said problems are caused by closing off a portion of the ocean with nets. "Nets are a threat themselves to wild species and ecosystems. They cause entanglement, affect shorelines and access, and impact the natural movement of wild species through those areas." No such issue exists. A net designed to hold whales and dolpins would be too substantial to get tangled in, but allow full flow of water including other marine species. AQUARIUM: "There are also indications the animals could suffer in a sea pen. Human contact and socialization is limited, which is necessary for a captive whale, said the vet." Not an issue. It's just a matter of policy to ensure there are companions, monitors, and care-takers at the seapen 24/7 to provide sufficient human contact. AQUARIUM: "At the same time, caring for a sick or injured animal is almost impossible, as sea pens allow no control over temperature or salinity and create huge challenges in monitoring the animals." That's a totally unnecessary concern. The Merck Veterinary Manual says the most therapeutic environment for marine mammals is the closest possible approximation to a natural marine environment. What could be more therapeutic than an actual marine environment. The environment controls itself. There's no challenge at all. AQUARIUM: "Parasites and other pathogens could also be an issue — not only for the captive cetaceans but also for the native species that inhabit the area." That's not difficult to avoid. Pathology, toxicology, and overall health parameters need to be assessed prior to transport and monitored to effectively avoid any such issues. AQUARIUM: "...handlers tried to teach [Keiko] to catch live fish." This bit of misinformation shows disrespect toward Keiko's memory. He knew how to catch live fish the first time they were offered to him in Newport, OR. He also knew how to feed himself in Iceland, and he caught his own meals just fine during his 5-week swim to Norway. He also knew how to accept fish from handlers, and doing so was part of the companionship he needed. He showed his enthusiasm from the moment he was lowered into his native Icelandic waters. As soon as he was immersed, Keiko pumped his flukes to swim clear of the stretcher and immediately dove. He surfaced a full minute later, circling the pool, echolocating and vocalizing excitedly, as if calling out "Who's there?" After 10 minutes of energetically exploring his new home he seemed more interested in the place than the humans. Keiko vocalized like he'd never done before – much more than when he was in Oregon. Three days later Keiko's activity level was still much higher than it was in Oregon. He "porpoised," coming smoothly out of the water in a continuous, graceful arc to breathe and slipping immediately beneath the surface again. In the past he often stayed at the surface following a breath. Dr. Cornell was visibly moved by Keiko's response. "As a veterinarian, Keiko's medical supervisor and a human being,' he says, pausing to regain his composure, 'it can't get any better." Keiko remains the only example of a long-term captive released in its natal waters. AQUARIUM:...that for a captive whale, life in a netted cove would be one of "isolation and deprivation." How? With companions and caretakers available 24/7 there would be no isolation or deprivation. AQUARIUM: "The idea of a sanctuary, that these animals should be left alone in this big ocean paradise, is false," he said, adding the astronomical cost of the caring for the whales would also require some sort of revenue stream..." Again, why would they be left alone? That's misinformation. The costs would depend on the purposes, the scale, and the timeline of the project. Orca Network's retirement plan for Lolita/Tokitae, for example, is designed for her and her alone, and does not call for permanent structures or any public access on site. Comprehensive public access would be via video, photographic and written logs of the entire operation on a daily basis. The net, the wet lab and staff quarters, the medical pen, and the personnel needed would be adjusted to changing circumstances. The plan is flexible according to her medical and behavioral progress, and do not call for an astronomical budget at all. These unfounded objections seem intended to block further consideration of seapens for captive whales and dolphins, which apparently reflects the management's inability to imagine the Vancouver Aquarium without live cetaceans. SeaWorld is facing the same pressures but on a much a larger scale, and has responded in part by creating high-tech, virtual reality, digital experiences, like the new Orca Encounters, which will highlight research and orca education through video clips, and graphics. San Diego SeaWorld is also launching Orca360, a way to feel at one with the killer whales while never having to leave the comfort of a swiveling chair. These innovations are very tentative and the content can't be expected to be better than SeaWorld's arcane beliefs, but the technology offers truly educational and incredibly thrilling experiences without holding captive cetaceans. ------------------------------------------------ For info on planned cetacean sanctuaries please visit: http://www.whalesanctuaryproject.org/