SeaWorld is finally capitulating to public pressure to treat its orcas with more dignity, pressure which increased exponentially after the release of the controversial 2013 documentary Blackfish. In a statement released Monday afternoon, SeaWorld representatives have announced that live orca shows will be phased out at the San Diego SeaWorld location between now and 2017. While this step will not ensure that orcas are released from captivity, it will prevent them from being forced to perform on demand while in captivity, Fox News reports.
Just last Thursday, SeaWorld reported that the company's 3rd quarter earnings were less than anticipated by Wall Street, likely due to the public's backlash relating to Blackfish. Despite the lower attendance at SeaWorld parks and sub-par 3rd quarter earnings, SeaWorld stock did see a 5 percent increase in value over the last year.

Known as the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act, Schiff's bill would make it a crime to breed captive orcas, to capture wild orcas and to import or export orcas to or from the United States. Effectively, Schiff has said he's working to ensure that the current generation of orcas at SeaWorld and other parks will be the last.
"The evidence is very strong that the psychological and physical harm done to these magnificent animals far outweighs any benefits reaped from their display."The public definitely agrees.
The State of California has taken steps to curtail and regulate the practices of SeaWorld since the release of Blackfish. Just this October, the state passed legislation outlawing the captive breeding of orcas following reports that captive killer whales don't live as long as those in the wild. As part of the new legislation, SeaWorld was given the go-ahead for a $100 million expansion to their killer whale tanks/exhibits. Presumably, this money will go to create the new educational/conservation-centered exhibits which will replace the current orca shows at SeaWorld San Diego by 2017.

While today's announcement from SeaWorld is definitely a step in the right direction, there's still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to the treatment of captive orcas. We can only hope the actions currently being taken by SeaWorld are indicative of a sincere desire to provide better lives for the animals in their care, and not simply placating steps being used to barely conform to new legislation. Only time will tell how serious SeaWorld is about the ultimate well-being of orcas both in and out of captivity.
[Image Courtesy of Geraldo Mora/Getty Images]