House of Reps. demands new captive whales regs

 

Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) — Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff  and Jared Huffman, both of California, on Wednesday, June 11, attached an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Act to require the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct and update the science necessary for Animal Welfare Act  regulations on captivity of orcas and cetaceans. The amendment would direct the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service – which regulates animal captivity, sale, and exhibition– to update and finalize captive marine mammal regulations that have languished for 20 years. The  Schiff-Huffman amendment passed with unanimous bipartisan support.

“For almost 20 years, USDA has failed to review and update the Animal Welfare Act regulations for captive orcas and other marine mammals. These rules certainly should have been revised in light of new data twelve years ago when USDA opened up the rulemaking process.  Unfortunately, they dropped the ball—so it’s time to try again. Our amendment reminds USDA that inaction is unacceptable – the American people want to see these regulations reviewed and updated to reflect the growing scientific and public  concern about the effect of captivity on these animals,” the two congressmen said.

____________________________
Keeping Up With Jewish Public Officials
_____________________________

In 2002, USDA sought public comment on an update to captive marine mammal standards for indoor facilities, outdoor facilities, water quality, space requirements, and swim-with-the-dolphin programs. During the public comment period, USDA received numerous comments from  the animal exhibitor industry, animal welfare groups, the scientific community, and the general public, recommending changes to tank sizes and otherwise improving facilities for marine mammals. Yet twelve years later, USDA still has not finalized these regulations.

Last month, Reps. Huffman, Schiff and 38 members of Congress called on USDA to take immediate steps to ensure the regulations protecting captive orcas and marine mammals reflect modern science. In a bipartisan letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the members of  Congress urged his department to immediately update Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations for captive marine mammals, which have not been updated since 1995.

*
Preceding provided by Congressman Adam Schiff of California