The future of whales, dolphins and porpoises at the Vancouver aquarium hangs in the balance, and 65 people — including researchers from the marine science centre and critics who oppose keeping cetaceans in captivity for any reason — have registered to speak in an effort to persuade elected commissioners at a special park board meeting at 6 p.m. tonight.
The seven people on the park board will be faced with four options.
They could ask the city, with council approval pending, to hold a plebiscite. However, that vote would not take place until 2018.
Or, they have the option of endorsing aquarium plans to bring up to five belugas to a multimillion-dollar expansion exhibit that would nonetheless phase out all cetacean displays by 2029.
Finally, the park board could either uphold the status quo or they could re-write bylaws that affect all parks and organizations, like the aquarium, that hold leases for those public lands. In 2014, the park board of the day discussed restricting cetacean breeding; although they were widely mocked for what was perceived as an attempt to interfere with what happens naturally, the aquarium has since said it will stop its breeding program. The board can revisit those or bring in stricter regulations.
Follow Courier reporter Megan Stewart on Twitter as she covers the meetings
Frequently a lightening rod for controversy despite its commitment to conservation efforts and research, the aquarium draws international criticism for keeping cetaceans in captivity at its aquarium in Stanley Park and at locations around the continent.
The outcry grew stronger in November when two beluga whales died within nine days of each other. Following the death of a mother and her calf, aged 30 and 21, aquarium president and CEO John Nightingale implied the animals may have been poisoned. At the time he made those comments, the aquarium had spent $100,000 on their own investigation but had not contacted the Vancouver police to pursue a criminal investigation.
In response to growing concern and public campaigns opposed to keeping cetaceans in captivity, NPA commissioner Sarah-Kirby Yung introduced a motion to hold a city plebiscite. The motion was then sent back to staff for further research, which is what the park board will discuss.
A second meeting will likely be held Thursday, March 9.
