| EDUCATION LEADS TO ACTION |
 | | TILLIKUM IN A BACK POOL AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO |
On Wednesday, June 11, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-CA) attached an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Act which would require the USDA to conduct a study to examine the effects of captivity on orcas and cetacean's health and well-being, and update the Animal Welfare Act regulations to reflect the findings of the study. The amendment specifically directs the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) -- which regulates animal captivity, sale and exhibition of animals -- to conduct the study. The amendment passed with unanimous bipartisan support on the House floor.
Said Reps. Schiff and Huffman in a release:
"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."
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Reps. Schiff and Huffman Discuss Amendment
Directing USDA to Act to Protect Captive Orcas
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MEANWHILE, AT THE MIAMI SEAUARIUM
Lolita's waits for NOAA to weigh in on exactly how her endangered species status will protect her -- ruling expected by January 2015 -- and The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) presses forward, renewing a request they made in November, asking the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to investigate blatant violations of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act -- the law that protects employees from deadly workplace hazards -- by requiring trainers to swim with and even ride Lolita like a surfboard as she performs tricks in her tiny tank.
ALDF included exclusive video evidence of this ongoing occupational hazard. You can watch the video below. Notice there is no protective barrier between Lolita and the public as they gather along the railing. Trainer gets on Lolita's rostrum at minute 12:45.
 | | Trainers in Water with Orca at Miami Seaquarium |
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