Animal Rights Groups Protest the Exploitation of Cetaceans in Aquariums

• Animal rights collectives in Spain are campaigning against the confinement of cetaceans, characterizing aquariums as centers of exploitation rather than conservation.
• The protests recently honored the lives of 'Jelly Bean,' a beluga, and 'Echo,' a dolphin, who died after being transferred to Valencia from a closing facility in Canada.

Legal Framework and Contradictions

• Spain’s Animal Rights and Welfare Law (7/2023) permits the captivity of cetaceans strictly for research and conservation purposes, with performances only allowed under professional supervision.
• Critics argue that these justifications are flawed, noting that the species involved are not endangered, legitimate scientific research is scarce, and captivity severely impacts the animals' physical and psychological well-being.
• While the law bans the use of wild animals in circuses, cetaceans remain excluded from this prohibition, allowing facilities to force them to perform tricks under the guise of scientific education.

Statistics and Institutional Criticism

• Data from Ceta-Base confirms that many cetaceans housed in major facilities were captured from the wild rather than born in captivity.
• Advocates assert that the 'educational' image of dolphinariums is a form of disinformation designed to normalize animal exploitation.
• The campaign draws parallels between circus performances and aquarium shows, questioning why public scrutiny has largely ignored the plight of dolphins while successfully banning other wild animals from similar entertainment displays.