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Vancouver Sadquarium's 60 Years Part 2
posted on June 17, 2016
The Slave Trade Continues
Presently the Vancouver Aquarium manages the Oceanografic in Valencia, Spain. It currently retains a reported 13 bottlenose dolphins, 10 of which are wild caught. It is also reported that 6 male bottlenose dolphins have recently been transferred to other aquariums within the EU. Oceanografic also imprisons a pair of wild caught beluga whales, originally captured in Russian waters and previously held in Argentina. The female, “Yulka”, gave birth at the juvenile age of 8 to a male calf on the 3rd of November 2003, which sadly died 25 days later. (Note: Apparently 55% of the dolphins in Europe are owned by Spanish companies. So the Valencia one is part of the Spanish businesses supplying dolphins to EU and is managed by the Vancouver Aquarium.)
THE AQUARIUM AND MILITARY EXPERIMENTS
In 2007 a meeting was held at the Vancouver Aquarium to plan increasing use of captives and “rescued” wildlife as untapped research tools for lucrative grants. Experiments on captives is not only scientifically fallacious but takes time and funding from more relevant field studies.
Some examples:
1. In 2015 VA, UBC, and others captured 20 Harbour seals to look at salmon fry predation. The seals were subjected to the attachment of large instrument packs on their heads and backs. It was stated that the information gathered could lead to a West Coast seal hunt.
2. Since the early 90s over 20 endangered Stellar sea lion pups were abducted from their mothers when 2 weeks old. After 7 years of experiments on six fur seals behind the scenes five were now put on display.
They are kept in metabolic chambers, restraint devices, swim mills, and forced to do experiments on command. It is a vain attempt to mimic what is causing their decline in the wild. Experiments also included rats at UBC. Fisheries Minister Brian Tobin agreed with Lifeforce that test tube experiments cannot mimic the complex natural web of life
3. Researchers tried to train dolphins from Japan to wear blinders so they would use their echo location. After more than one year they gave up with one of the two dolphins.
There can be no “improved nets”. Tuna fisher observers are stationed on ships to stop when dolphins are present. And “pingers” used on BC fish farm nets scared species out of their habitats.
Earth Island Institute stated: Vancouver Aquarium has nothing to do with saving dolphins from tuna fish operations. It is ludicrous for them to state that dolphins can echo locate with regard to nets. It is just green washing by the captive dolphin industry. There is no dolphin safe net....nets are mono filament and nothing bounces off them.
4. Belugas vocals in the wild have been recorded in the wild for decades and are well known. In captivity, sounds from mechanical operations and vocals bouncing off the walls can create a torture chamber. In 1990, the Bioacoustic lab at Cornell University stated that belugas behave differently,“ The tank is like living in a house of mirrors and you are walking around with an intense spotlight on your forehead: suddenly seeing is painful, unrewarding, and barely functional.”
5. They collect, and report the work of others such as their Coastal Ocean Research Institute that will compile the lifelong work of researchers in the field in an annual report at a cost of $2 million.
More VA History
1. In 1988 the VA proposed a new Arctic Canada exhibit. It was stated that the new pool would provide more space for the existing 3 belugas but when 1 died they captured 3 more from the wild in 1990. The new pool was overcrowded and aggression occurred. Some were kept out of public view in a research pool. They also received a Federal grant of $200,000 for feasibility studies to keep belugas AND narwhals in captivity.
2. In regards to “Ocean Wise” there is not enough fish to feed the growing world population. Wildlife need it and do not have a choice. For example, the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale need the salmon. In addition, any "sustainable" fish can quickly become unsustainable when targeted. Humans can go vegan and that includes delicious vegan fish products that are truly sustainable. Be Ocean Wiser!
Sustainable fish is doubtful > http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/most-canadian-seafood-fails-harvesting-sustainability-test-report
3. What is “Ocean Wise” about the VA operating aquaculture businesses to market sea horses and other species for sushi etc.? It could continue to promote the decimation of wild populations too. Protect the natural habitats!
4. Great Canadian Cleanup was started by numerous environmental organizations in the 70s. Vancouver joined in 1994.
5. In 1996 Lifeforce was instrumental in convincing the Vancouver Parks to implement a Cetacean Bylaw to phase out the captivity of all cetaceans. Over the VA lobbied for changes and the present bylaw must be strengthen to fulfill the original goal.
For further information: lifeforcesociety@hotmail.com
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