What future for Marineland (and its cetaceans) without captivity?

Marineland currently has four orcas (Archives) -

• The texts that the government should "quickly" ratify in a new decree will include an immediate ban on breeding and the introduction of new animals.

• “Unfair” and “above all impractical in such a short timeframe,” warns Pascal Picot, the director general of the Antibes marine park.

• "Why these decisions only apply to marine parks and not to all other zoos," he pleaded, considering an appeal.

Marineland without its killer whales and dolphins, this is what the government wants by 2027. If they were welcomed as a "victory" by anti-captivity associations, the announcements, this Tuesday, of the Minister for Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili, appear "unfair" and "above all impracticable in such a short time," warns Pascal Picot, the director general of the Antibes marine park.

The texts that the government should "quickly" ratify in a new decree will include an immediate ban on breeding and the introduction of new animals.

“Then, from 2022, French parks will no longer be able to hold orcas.

Neither dolphins from 2027 ”, specifies the LREM deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes Loïc Dombreval, president of the parliamentary study group“ Animal condition ”.

"We will decide whether to initiate an appeal"

"If the deadline is indeed two years, it is infeasible", supports Pascal Picot, annoyed, he says, that the profession "was not consulted, that there was no consultation".

"Why these decisions only apply to marine parks and not to all other zoos", he also plague, evoking an "injustice".

"We are waiting for the decree and we will then decide whether it is necessary to initiate an appeal, warns the person in charge.

But such short deadlines do not seem legal to me, because they are clearly untenable.

In 2018, a previous decree by Ségolène Royal had been canceled by the Council of State.

Marineland now holds four killer whales and twelve dolphins, the last of which were born in captivity this year.

What could they become?

The minister evokes the trail of a “sanctuary” at sea where these animals could be transferred.

“This is indeed the preferred solution,” explains Loïc Dombreval, interviewed by

.

Better that than seeing these animals sent to other parks elsewhere in the world.

"

“For the orcas, I'm afraid that this is inevitable and that they end up in structures in China, where their living conditions would be deplorable.

The solution of sanctuaries would, on the other hand, be really viable for the dolphins ", advances for her part Christine Granjean, president of the anticaptivity association It is enough, delighted with" these announcements which are a real victory after six years of combat ".

A financial contribution deemed "derisory"

We would then only shift part of the problem?

"We cannot legislate for other countries but at least these decisions will stop the infernal cycle of reproductions and exchanges between our parks", points out the activist.

There remains the financial question linked to these decisions.

"Who will pay for these sanctuaries that are announced to us?"

“Asks Pascal Picot, also judging the aid announced by Barbara Pompili to help the impacted parks as“ absolutely derisory ”.

A total envelope "of at least eight million euros" will be put on the table for the reconversion of the three dolphinariums of the country but also of the traveling circuses (where wild animals should no longer appear).

A sum also considered "ridiculous" for the mayor of Antibes Jean Leonetti (LR).

"The risk is that the owners of the park [the Spanish group Parques Reunidos] simply decide to abandon it and put the animals elsewhere," says the elected official.

There is also the risk of losing hundreds of jobs.

»Marineland has 160 permanent contracts and hires up to 500 seasonal workers.

The possibility of transforming the park into a place for aquatic leisure "would only preserve a very small part of employment and only 80 days a year", warns Pascal Picot.

Planet

What will become of the animals currently present in circuses and dolphinariums?

Planet

Birth of the second dolphin in a month at Marineland

• Antibes

• Animals

• Barbara pompili

• Nice

• Marineland

• Planet