Story So Far: SeaWorld expansion of orca tanks up for Coastal Commission vote today
Opponents gather in Long Beach as the California Coastal Commission is set to vote on whether SeaWorld San Diego should be allowed to build larger tanks for the park’s killer whales.
The California Coastal Commission is set to vote Thursday on whether SeaWorld San Diego should be allowed to build larger tanks for the park's killer whales.
The marine-based theme park company has proposed a project to replace its existing 1.7 million-gallon tank holding facility with a new 450,000-gallon pool and a 5.2-million gallon tank to hold 11 killer whales.
SeaWorld says the larger tanks will give the whales more space to swim and also create new opportunities for research.
The vote, which is in Long Beach, has been delayed since August to give commission staff more time to "ensure that all viewpoints and relevant information are addressed in any final recommendation," a spokeswoman said at the time.
The Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over construction along the state's shoreline, said it has received 50,000 letters and 200,000 emails about the expansion plan. SeaWorld has been under fire since the release of the 2013 documentary "Blackfish," which accused the park of abusing its orcas.
Here is what you need to know about the expansion plan.
Why is SeaWorld proposing this now?Read more
SeaWorld officials say they have been considering this project for years as a way to enhance the space for whales. Critics note that SeaWorld announced the project in the wake of strong criticism generated by the 2013 release of the documentary "Blackfish," which accuses the marine park of neglecting and abusing its whales. Attendance at the park has dropped since the film was released.
How much will the project cost?
$100 million
What do opponents say about it?Read more
Animal rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, say the larger tanks are still too small for the 11 whales, which can swim hundreds of miles per day in the wild. Many opponents are calling for SeaWorld to release the whales into seaside sanctuaries. They also worry that SeaWorld will use the larger tanks to import or breed more whales for the park.
How does SeaWorld respond to that?Read more
SeaWorld says its whales were either born or have spent most of their lives in captivity and cannot care for themselves in the wild. And SeaWorld officials have agreed not to house any killer whale, or use any “genetic material” from a killer whale, taken from the wild after Feb. 12, 2014.
The scene in Long Beach on Thursday morning
