SWIMS Act - Phase out of certain cetacean species

[NAIB Volunteer]

There’s already legal precedent for this under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. As far as I’m aware it’s illegal to keep them in the country without the express permission of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Obviously they make exceptions all the time for non releasable individuals

The legal precedent is the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It gives facilities the ability to house these animals under special circumstances (display for education and research). Congress granted those facilities permission and they can take that permission away, which is the SWIMS Act. Obviously there are numerous laws and federal regulations dictating the captive housing of some animals, like the one you mentioned, and hopefully soon, the Big Cat Safety Act.

 

[PantheraLeoMelanochaita]

As of January 31st, the SWIMS Act has been reintroduced to the Senate.

 

[StoppableSan]

As of January 31st, the SWIMS Act has been reintroduced to the Senate.

There are *so many* dolphins (and cetaceans in general) in the US that it would be a logistical nightmare to send them all to sanctuaries. Even stuff like orcas, belugas, etc., where are they going to go? Is the government going to subsidize sea pens in the Oregon coast as well as assist in transporting all these cetaceans over? Even if National Aquarium follows through with their dolphin sanctuary project, it can only hold so many dolphins. This is a superficial vanity project reintroduced during an ELECTION YEAR rather than something that is a genuine effort towards improving animal welfare.

 

[15399]

As of January 31st, the SWIMS Act has been reintroduced to the Senate.

There are *so many* dolphins in the US that it would be a logistical nightmare to send them all to sanctuaries. Even if National Aquarium follows through with their dolphin sanctuary project, it can only hold so many dolphins. This is a vanity project reintroduced during an ELECTION YEAR rather than something that is a genuine effort towards improving animal welfare.

An insane amount of bills are reintroduced every single congressional term, most of which have no hope of being put into law. I can confidently say that this is highly unlikely to go anywhere, at least in the current congress which has been the least productive in recent history. It's honestly not that noteworthy that this was reintroduced, normally once a bill is introduced once it'll keep being reintroduced every few years.

 

[NAIB Volunteer]

There are *so many* dolphins (and cetaceans in general) in the US that it would be a logistical nightmare to send them all to sanctuaries. Even stuff like orcas, belugas, etc., where are they going to go? Is the government going to subsidize sea pens in the Oregon coast as well as assist in transporting all these cetaceans over? Even if National Aquarium follows through with their dolphin sanctuary project, it can only hold so many dolphins. This is a superficial vanity project reintroduced during an ELECTION YEAR rather than something that is a genuine effort towards improving animal welfare.

The current holders can still keep their animals. The Bill doesn't say anything that current holders need to give up their animals. Obviously no cetacean has been collected in decades and the latest beluga import has already likely shut that avenue down. So the only provision that matters is a prohibition on breeding - but the only species that it affects are belugas. And their breeding success is already diminished and will die out anyway.

No mention about rescued individuals so I'd imagine that text will be included during committee meetings.

So no need to lose you heads over this. Like someone else said, it's a long road to become a law.