Letter to the Tribune: not likely to be published = Orcas are under federal control, not state. Richard Bloom is misdirecting efforts to punish Sea World. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) states No state may enforce for attempt to enforce any law concerning the take of marine mammals. This was mentioned in a letter from NOAA to the City Council concerning attempting to close Childrens Pool, but it was ignored. Our tradition is Lets do it and see if anybody stops us. A take is widely defined in the MMPA to include feeding, sheltering, and a wide range of altering natural behavior as well as direct harm. One can only petition NOAA to cancel the permits Sea World has, but take care. The MMPA does not single out particular marine mammals. If maintaining marine mammals for public display could be made a federal violation, it would mean performing seals and sea lions also. If you feel the feds have been overly indulgent with Sea World, note that the rescue and rehabilitation of sick or stranded seals and sea lions for our entire County is done solely by Sea World, on grants that do not always cover the costs. Sea World is not obligated to do this, but does it out of civic duty, dipping into its revenues if needed. This year a run of starving sea lions overran the budget. We are expecting an El Niño soon, which always creates distress and displacement and a run on the rescue system.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 15:47:42 +0000
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