The most uplifting thing about the bill is that
there was support across the political parties. This means that environmental
issues are not subject to party politics, and everyone is determined to take
better care of our environment. Environmental issues shouldn’t be subject to
party politics because, in the end, we all live on the same planet.
Bill S-203 bans the breeding of dolphins and
whales in captivity, and it amends the current criminal code to include this as
a crime. This means that Canadian marine parks like Marineland can still keep
any cetaceans currently under their care, but they cannot breed a new
generation or capture more in the wild. The bill also prohibits the importing
of cetacean sperm, tissues, or embryos. The goal is to slowly phase out the
practice of keeping dolphins and whales in captivity, and the government wants
to discourage any further practices of the sort.
Activists are still lobbying for the transfer
of the remaining 55 cetaceans in Marineland to an open-water sanctuary.
Especially after the release of shocking documentaries like Black Fish, people
are becoming more conscious of how their activities affect the environment.
Lobbying for changes on the government level is one of the key tools for
changing the way we do things because individual activism can only go so far.
With a law in place, more people will be inclined to follow suit.
Canada has also passed Bill S-238, which bans
the import of sharks’ fins. The country’s political parties may disagree on
many things, but it is amazing to know that they all agree on enacting
legislation that will protect the environment. Cetaceans can continue to swim
happily knowing that they will no longer end up in a Canadian aquarium for the
viewing pleasure of humans.
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