The debate over the rights of captive marine animals has been widely discussed for the past 20 years. Recent amendments have been put in place on the Animal Welfare Act to give these animals certain protections. Animals in captivity such as orcas and dolphins deserve a better life than just swimming behind a glass wall for the people to look at for entertainment. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hopes to help these marine animals by regaining control of the regulations set for these animals. The USDA hopes to improve conditions like the amount of space and the quality of the water. For the past 15 years, corporations like Sea World have gone without federal regulation in the treatment of their animals. This has caused numerous injuries and health troubles for the captive animals as well as the humans in charge of them.The USDA hopes that the plan they have for these animals will eventually help end their “exploitation”. These great animals should not be used for entertainment purposes anymore. A recent act has been introduced called the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act which will prohibit “the breeding, wild capture, and import/export of orcas for public display purposes”. No aquarium or marine park can even come close to the size of the ocean and the freedom these animals deserve, especially because of how large some of these marine animals are. Orcas and dolphins aren’t meant to live in captivity and the consequences of confinement and abuse show up in these animals just like it does in humans. We should all take action to help liberate these animals.
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