Killer Whales, OSHA fines SeaWorld $38,500 for safety violation

[Beringia]

June 11, 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined SeaWorld Orlando $38,500 and labeled the park a repeat offender, saying the entertainment giant continues to operate a workplace that can "cause death or serious physical harm to employees."

The fine is the result of a follow-up inspection OSHA conducted at Shamu Stadium on December 11, 2012.

In order to protect its employees, OSHA has recommended that SeaWorld take steps such as "prohibiting animal trainers from working with killer whales ... unless the trainers are protected through the use of physical barriers or the trainers are required to maintain a minimum safe distance.”

The fine, which was issued Friday, comes amid a three-year fight between OSHA and SeaWorld after trainer Dawn Brancheau was drowned in Orlando by a killer whale in 2010.


full story
http://www.news4jax.com/news/osha-fines-seaworld-38500-for-safety-violation/-/475880/20513650/-/5i5sinz/-/index.html


Blackfish Documentary

Blackfish thread on DU
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017133476
http://blackfishmovie.com/




Side note: My father was on a submarine in WWII called Blackfish

[darkangel218]

1. Whales and dolphins are sentient animals

They shouldnt be abused like this.

I really hope that SeaWorld and all the other parks and aquariums in the world will realize that what they do is wrong and stop exploiting these extreamly inteligent animals.
They are NOT happy in captivity. They are too big for their tanks. Its like keeping a person in an ectreamly small cell , made of steel. There is nothing natural for them in that environment.
And as far as " theyre educating people" , BS! Whales don't do tricks on command in the wild.

All this abuse needs to stop.

[Beringia]

2. I agree 100%

They are very unhappy when not in the wild. I read about the trainer for the Flipper TV series and he said one dolphin he trained literally stopped breathing on purpose because he was so unhappy. Now that trainer, Ric O'Barry is an activist to stop captivity of dolphins for shows.

[joeybee12]

3. They'll only "realize" what they're doing is wrong when they stop making a profit...

"Education" is their catchword to fool the public. I say, close them down!