Mon, 13 March 2023
Kiska the orca who was known as the loneliest orca in the world passed away due to a bacterial infection on March 10th and people around the world are angry at Marineland for their lack of effort in taking good care of Kiska. But the most frustrating part of Kiska's story is that she could have been the first orca to participate in the whale sanctuary project. Therefore, we need to intensify the efforts of retiring orcas and other marine mammals to seaside sanctuaries so we don't repeat Kiska's tragedy. Link to article: http://bit.ly/41YNt42 Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: HTPTO_E1429_KiskaHasPassedAway.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 12:19am EDT |
Fri, 10 February 2023
Whale and dolphin captivity is quite a controversial issue as there are people who are advocating for the release of every captive orca, dolphin, seal, and sea lion (along with manatees) to improve their overall health and there are people who think that these animals are treated well in marine parks and offer a great way for humans to make a connection to help save marine mammals. On which side should you fall and how do you make that decision? These are just some of the questions that you may ask yourself when the opportunity presents itself to see an orca or some other marine mammal. I am going to give you some resources that can help you make decisions for yourself so that you can live for a better ocean. Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: HTPTO_E1417_3WaysToMakeDecisionOnWhaleDolphinCaptivity.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Mon, 31 October 2022
People love traveling to Mexico to enjoy the tropical weather to escape winter for a week and the high tourist area called Quintana Roo is a very popular destination. But there is a problem with some of the tourist activities such as dolphin excursions. Tourists can watch captive dolphins perform tricks or even swim with them. Scientists and advocates have been trying to shut the dolphinarium industry down all over the world, but Mexico is home to approximately 10% of the 3000 held in captivity around the world. A recent vote by Mexico's government officials has banned marine mammal captivity which is a great first step in the right direction; however, I am going to talk about why so much more needs to be done to ensure this ban on captivity goes through. In other words, I am not holding my breath. Link to article: https://bit.ly/3DNpSJq Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: SUFB_S1375_MexicoBansCaptiveMarineMammals.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Mon, 30 May 2022
Laws in Canada make sure that marine theme parks such as Marineland cannot acquire new cetaceans (Whales or Dolphins) and they were amended in 2019 to ensure that whales and dolphins do not perform in their entertainment shows, but evidence suggests that Marineland continues to conduct the whale and dolphin shows. Therefore, Canadian laws should work faster to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals. In this episode, I will discuss the video evidence that was published by Animal Justice in Canada and why I think that the laws should work faster to stop the shows from happening at all. Link to Article: https://bit.ly/3lSb3vx Sign up to find out about the audio Ocean Conservation Careers members group: Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc
Direct download: SUFB_S1312_MarinelandRunningIllegalWhaleAndDolphinShowsInCanada.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Wed, 13 April 2022
Building a connection to the ocean is crucial to getting people interested in conserving the ocean. Marine theme parks that hold orcas, dolphins, seals, and sea lions are often advertised as ways to build the connection between people and the ocean; however, what cost are we willing to spend on building the connection. Marine mammals are not healthy in captivity and it's time that we end this experiment. Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: SUFB_S1292_DolphinHurtsTrainerAtMiamiSeaquarium.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Wed, 6 October 2021
A listener named Sydney Stauffer asked me to create an episode on my thoughts on swim-with-dolphin programs that are held with dolphins in captivity. She heard the episode with Stephanie Stack (e1214) about swim-with-whales in the wild and wanted me to discuss the captivity aspect of swimming with dolphins. Sydney was concerned that we don't discuss the captivity programs, especially the smaller companies that we see in tourist destinations such as the Caribbean. Tourists participate in these experiences because they think the animals want to participate, but that is not the case. The captive dolphins do not have a choice. A captive dolphin that has to undergo human swimming encounters multiple times per day (10-20 on the small end) is not comfortable interacting with that many humans who do not know how to properly interact with a dolphin. Dolphins can (and have!) get aggressive with humans who pay a lot of money to have a dream-come-true encounter with the cetacean. Education is the number one solution in getting people to stop frequenting the swim-with-dolphin encounters. Links: Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: SUFB_S1219_DiscoveryCoveSwimWithDolphinProgram.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 12:00am EDT |
Sun, 12 September 2021
![]() Kaitlyn Mitchell is a lawyer for Animal Justice, a non-profit organization that looks out for the welfare of animals in Canada. Website: https://animaljustice.ca/ Kaitlyn came highly recommended as someone to interview on the Canadian side of the border that is involved in advocating for the belugas in the transfer from Marineland (Canada) to Mystic Aquarium (US). I covered the original story by interviewing Dr. Naomi Rose (Episode 1197, https://www.speakupforblue.com/show/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/sufb-1197-havoc-the-beluga-whale-dies/). Kaitlyn provides us with an update on the beluga whale transfer as well as how we can make sure that bill S-203 (Canadian Cetacean Captivity Ban) can be made better to avoid needless deaths like that of Havok. Kaitlyn also tells us about the dire situation with Kiska, an orca that has been recorded bashing her head against the side of her tank. We discuss what Animal Justice hopes to be done about the orca at Marineland. Connect with Animal Justice: Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Direct download: SUFB_S1209_CetaceanBanBillandBelugaTransfer.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 8:05pm EDT |
Thu, 9 May 2019
Dr. Chris Parsons joins me on the podcast again today. This time Chris is discussing the results of a new report on the science of mortality and life expectancy of Marine Mammals in captivity compared to wild. There are many misleading "facts" out there regarding mortality and life expectancy so this report comes at the right time. Listen to Chris discuss the details now and let us know your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group. Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean. Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.
Direct download: SUFB_S779_MarineMammalInCaptivityNewReportWithDrChrisParsons.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 1:00pm EDT |
Mon, 29 October 2018
No more new Marine Mammal Captivity in Canada according to Bill S-203 that passed in the Senate last week. The Ban will including captivity and breeding programs in any facility in Canada. Marine Mammal Captivity has been very controversial for decades, but the Blackfish documentary increased the push of the movement to stop Marine Mammal Captivity in marine-themed parks. Scientists, Activists, Advocates and Policy Makers have been working tirelessly to ban captive marine mammals all over the world. Canada is just another country that has hopped aboard the movement. The Bill targets two facilities in Canada, The Vancouver Aquarium and Marineland. The former facility has changed its policies on Marine Mammal captivity in the recent years after it stood up for its educational and conservation purpose; however, protesters and members put enough pressure for the facility to give in. Marineland has yet to give up the fight. It says that banning captivity of marine mammals will shutdown the park and put local residents out of jobs; however, SeaWorld has undergone a huge and profitable transformation after the pressure of the public against its captive program took place and now markets towards other attractions such as rides and free beer. What do you think will happen to these facilities? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Join the Patreon Community to help support Speak Up For Blue's mission to bring Marine Science and Conservation information to you and the audience.
Direct download: SUFB_S610_MarineMammalsCapitivityBannedInCanada.mp3
Category:Marine Mammal Captivity -- posted at: 4:00pm EDT |