March 8, 2014
Bill in Calif. Would Ban Orca Shows
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 1 MIN.
A California state lawmaker wants to ban SeaWorld from using killer whales in its San Diego shows.
Assemblyman Richard Bloom, who unveiled the bill Friday, says orcas are too large and intelligent to be confined in small tanks for their entire lives.
His measure also would ban captive breeding and prohibit the import and export of orcas.
SeaWorld spokesman Dave Koontz says the company hasn't seen Bloom's legislation and can't comment on it.
U-T San Diego reports (http://bit.ly/1ovKWDK ) that Bloom, a Santa Monica Democrat, was moved to act after watching the documentary "Blackfish," which argues that killer whales in captivity become more aggressive to humans and each other.
SeaWorld has called the film propaganda.
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Information from: U-T San Diego, http://www.utsandiego.com
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
