A new bill would ban all orca breeding and shows in Florida

By Colin Wolf on Thu, Jan 11, 2018 at 3:15 pm

Photo via SeaWorld

A new bill introduced in the Florida House of Representatives would not only ban orca breeding programs, it would also make it illegal to keep killer whales in captivity for entertainment purposes.

The Florida Orca Protection Act, HB 1305, was introduced Jan. 9 by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs, and, if passed, would make it illegal to keep orcas for anything other than rehabilitation or educational purposes.

"If return to the wild is not possible," says the bill, "the orca may be used for educational presentations, but may not be used for breeding, performance, or entertainment purposes."

If passed, the bill would go into affect beginning July 1, 2018. Anyone who violates the law could be subject to $100,000 per violation, per day.

SeaWorld ended their orca breeding programs two years ago.

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