Call it a victory for animal lovers everywhere or a victory for common sense, but there’s great news coming out of San Diego.
In what the LA Times calls “a victory for SeaWorld,” the staff of the California Coastal Commission has officially recommended the approval of a permit to build SeaWorld’s Blue World project. It’s a critical step in the process to bring the guests the most revolutionary advancement in killer whale habitats in the world.
So, who is the California Coastal Commission?
They’re a state panel with authority to approve or deny construction projects along the state’s coastal areas after evaluating environmental impacts.
Numerous animal rights groups, including PETA have protested the review process, trying to persuade the commission to reject the expansion plan, which will go to a vote on October 8.
That’s right, PETA doesn’t want a new 450,000-gallon pool and a 5.2 million-gallon tank, providing guests and marine animals alike a unique, enriched killer whale environment.
The opposition wants the killer whales and other marine animals released to seaside sanctuaries, or sea pens, and we’ve covered the topic extensively. Check out this article on why sea pens are not a viable option. Or this one on the hidden motivation behind the push for sea pens. Or this article highlighting a leading activists’ surprising opinion on sea pens.
Now, all eyes are on the California Coastal Commission.
Commission staff say the project has brought the largest outpouring of public comments in the panel’s history. Curiously enough, more than 120,000 emails have rolled in, mostly against the permit request, while close to 32,000 letters and postcards have arrived, mostly in support of the project.
We’ll just leave this here: sending mass emails are PETA trolls’ specialty.
While the regulatory scope of the commission is limited only to construction impacts along the coast itself, SeaWorld has once again gone above and beyond in re-enforcing their commitment to world-class animal care and pledge opposing the taking animals from the wild.
It’s a sign of good faith and of positive things to come.
“The proposed Blue World project will provide not only an expanded habitat for whales, but also new opportunities for researchers to conduct studies that will benefit killer whales and other cetaceans in the wild,” said Paul Ponganis, a research physiologist at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, in a statement released by SeaWorld. “In addition, a dynamic animal environment like Blue World may inspire a host of future marine biologists, veterinarians, and other scientists.”
Not only will millions of guests be able to experience these amazing animals in new ways, but it looks like a huge win for marine scientists and the advancement of species research and protection.
It’s a victory for everyone.
Check out some of the amazing renderings of the new Blue World here.