Good news: Maui bans displays of captive cetaceans

Captive Cetacean Displays Banned
by Becky A. Dayhuff

January 15, 2003

The County Council of Maui recently made the Hawaiian county the 17th city or county in the United States to ban displays of captive cetaceans.

?The Council finds that cetaceans (dolphins and whales) are highly intelligent - and highly sensitive - marine mammals,? the legislation prohibiting the displays states. ?The Council further finds the presence of cetaceans in the Pacific Ocean surrounding Maui County provides many cultural, spiritual, and economic benefits to the County?s residents. The Council also finds that the exhibition of captive cetaceans leads to distress living conditions for these animals. Therefore, the purpose of this ordinance is to prohibit the exhibition of captive cetaceans (dolphins and whales).?

Violators are subject to imprisonment for not more than one year and fines of as much as $1,000.

Hundreds of letters and a petition signed by more than 15,000 individuals calling for the ban had been received by the members of the Council.

?This matter received more public support than any other matter in the history of Maui County,? said Council member Jo Anne Johnson.

?Maui will now be recognized as a place where whales and dolphins will all live free and in the wild,? said Council member Alan Arakawa.  ?This decision proves we can do what is right.?

Sources:
Environment News Service
www.ens-news.com/ens/nov2002/2002-11-18-09.asp#anchor5
Maui Bans Whale, Dolphin Exhibits