Bill AB2140, dubbed “the Blackfish Bill”, was reviewed in California today. The bill would effectively ban the keeping of Orcas for entertainment purposes in California. The Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee of the California Legislature requested revisions to the bill, which will be brought before the committee again in about 18 months. Though some were dissatisfied with this outcome, many saw it as the first step in a long road towards taking action to free Orcas.
Blackfish Documentary’s Role in Bill
The movie Blackfish has gained attention from around the world and sparked a movement for freeing Orcas. In the movie, Seaworld is mainly cited for its inhumane treatment of Orcas. Many former employees of Seaworld took part in making the documentary, revealing different but similarly appalling experiences at Seaworld. One of the main themes that came out in the documentary was the intelligence of Orcas and the psychological struggle that many of the Orcas manifested after being confined to quarters that were much too small for the large creatures. The death and injury of several employees over the years began to bring the dilemma into the light, and Blackfish helped to expose the underlying cause of these tragedies.
The film has made a huge impact on the general public’s view of marine centers like Seaworld, with many activists immediately beginning to protest at the gates and work towards bringing legislation that would prohibit Orcas from being held captive for human entertainment. While the bill was postponed today, the general arguments concerning the bill focused on the welfare of Orcas as opposed to the profits of the businesses.