Vancouver Aquarium opposes park board proposal banning captive whales, dolphins
VANCOUVER — There will be no new whales, dolphins or porpoises kept at the Vancouver Aquarium in the future if the city’s park board approves changes to its cetaceans bylaw on Monday.
It’s a move the aquarium says would hinder their marine mammal rescue efforts and muddle an expansion plan that is already underway.
The debate over whether the aquarium should house cetaceans was sparked after two belugas died suddenly last fall due to an unidentified toxin.
“It was a time for us to reflect what to do moving forward,” said Michael Wiebe, park board chair.