"Canada is now on the right side of history," said Ric O'Barry, founder of the NGO Dolphin Project, commenting on the Canadian government's decision to ban the keeping and breeding of cetaceans. Last Monday, the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill S-203: Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act, better known as the Free Willy law, after the title of the famous 1993 film in which a young protagonist frees an orca held captive in an American water park.

Freedom for dolphins and whales

The law, already approved by the Senate in October 2018 and whose legal journey began in 2015, prohibits keeping cetaceans such as porpoises, whales and dolphins in captivity. Canadian dolphinariums will therefore no longer be able to purchase marine mammals to confine in their facilities; offenders will be punished with fines of up to 150,000 dollars. The two facilities that already keep cetaceans — the Vancouver Aquarium and the amusement park Marineland — will be allowed to continue keeping the animals already in their possession, including orcas and belugas. Exemptions are also provided for injured animals, which may be held for treatment and rehabilitation, or for scientific research.

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A historic victory

The passing of the bill was welcomed with enthusiasm by the animal rights organisation Humane Canada: "nothing amazing happens quickly — reads a tweet from the organisation — today we celebrate the end of captivity for whales and dolphins," and by the Green Party of Canada, led by Elizabeth May: "these intelligent and social mammals will now be able to live in the place where they belong, the ocean." For the bill to be definitively approved and become law, the "royal assent" of Queen Elizabeth II is still required.

Humane World for Animals Canada @humaneworldcan

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INCREDIBLE! Keeping whales and dolphins in captivity is going to be banned in Canada! Legislation that bans keeping whales, dolphins, and porpoises in captivity for entertainment has just passed through Canadian Parliament. This is truly an historic victory! 🐳🐬 #cdnpoli #S203

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Common sense has prevailed

"This law represents a watershed moment in the protection of marine animals and a victory for all Canadians," declared Rebecca Aldworth, Executive Director of the Canadian section of Humane Society International. "The suffering of these animals can no longer be tolerated. We congratulate the people who supported this bill and the Canadian government for listening to public will and to the scientific evidence on this critical issue." Wilfred Moore, the senator who proposed the first version of the ban in 2015, also expressed his satisfaction. "We have a moral obligation to phase out the capture and keeping of animals for profit and entertainment."

Green Party of Canada @CanadianGreens

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#Breaking: When we work together, good things happen.

This is a combined effort from @ElizabethMay, Senators Moore and Sinclaire, key Liberal and NDP MPs, NGOs, marine scientists and everyday people across Canada.

#FreeWilly

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No more prisons

Confining animals to entertain a paying public is wrong and anachronistic, even more so when we are talking about social animals with marked intelligence, sensitivity and curiosity, which in the wild occupy vast ranges — as cetaceans do. It is no coincidence that the majority of marine mammals in captivity live approximately half as long as they would in their natural habitat.