The Vancouver Aquarium is taking the city’s park board to court over new four bylaw resolutions that could put an end to whale and dolphin displays at the Stanley Park tourist attraction.
The Vision Vancouver-dominated board voted unanimously last month to ban the aquarium from breeding captive whales and dolphins unless an endangered species is involved. Neither NPA commissioners were present for the vote.
Aquarium president and CEO John Nightingale said a judicial review is necessary because the resolutions are outside the jurisdiction of the park board, who control the facility.
“The filing asks that the validity of the resolutions be reviewed in light of the park board’s legal authority as a municipal organization,” said Nightingale. “The resolutions raise significant concerns given the risks and impractical nature of proposed changes to the park bylaw under which cetaceans can be acquired and kept in Vancouver’s parks.”
Nightingale went on to say that with overfishing and marine pollution becoming increasingly problematic, human intervention is required.
“Now is not the time to be doing less to protect and preserve our ocean environments,” he said.
Vision park board commissioner Aaron Jasper told the Courier Thursday morning the park board “vigorously” stands by the decision.
“We feel we were very fair and transparent in dealing with this complex issue,” said Jasper, who is not seeking re-election in the Nov. 15 municipal election. “We feel that the decision to prevent or to ban the breeding of cetaceans in the aquarium struck the right balance between supporting the good work the aquarium does in terms of research and education, but also reflecting the changing attitudes amongst the public in that many people feel that keeping cetaceans in captivity is just wrong.”
While both COPE and Green Party park board candidates are calling for a public referendum on continuing to keep cetaceans at the aquarium, Jasper said Vision Vancouver does not support the idea.
“That would be making this issue just a political football. Really the goal here is to do what’s best in terms of animal welfare.”
Currently, the aquarium cares for rescued animals that can’t care for themselves in the ocean or were born in captivity, and is currently home to two dolphins, two porpoises and two beluga whales.
— With files from Jen St. Denis
