SeaWorld agrees to stricter orca trainer safety guidelines in California
by Tom Anstey | 07 Jan 2016
The new regulations will restrict orca-trainer contact except in absolutely necessary situtations / SeaWorld
SeaWorld has reached an agreement with California state regulators over allegations that the operator’s San Diego park failed to train its workers to safely interact with its orcas.
The new safety procedures, still to be given final approval by the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, would prohibit SeaWorld’s trainers in the state from swimming under the orcas, standing on them in almost all cases, or surfing on them.
The settlement would dismiss four worker safety citations – which said the park didn't keep employees aware of hazards involving the orcas – and related fines, but require the park to adhere to strict guidelines on how whales and trainers interact.
SeaWorld has already ended the practice of having trainers in the water with orcas following the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010. The company has been struggling to recover from a PR hit related to the Blackfish documentary, which suggested the treatment of captive orcas provoked violent behaviour.
In a statement, SeaWorld spokesperson Dave Koontz said the company is pleased with the decision to withdraw its citations and impose conditions “based largely on SeaWorld’s existing safety program,” adding that the decision would allow SeaWorld to “continue its critical animal care practices and trainer safety training methods.”
New SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby has been handed the tough task of changing the park’s fortunes. Manby announced at IAAPA in November that the park is transitioning away from the acrobatic stunt show in California, with plans to adopt a more natural show, part of a wider strategy to create meaningful experiences for Seaworld’s guests as part of a conservation-based approach.
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SeaWorld has reached an agreement with California state regulators over allegations that the operator’s San Diego park failed to train its workers to safely interact with its orcas. The new safety procedures, still to be given final approval by the California Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, would prohibit SeaWorld’s trainers in the state from swimming under the orcas, standing on them in almost all cases, or surfing on them.
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