SeaWorld Fights To Keep Its Trainers Really Close To The Whales!

4/04/2013 9:01 AM ET | Filed under: Legal Matters • Whales • Sea World • Danger!

seaworld

They say any type of publicity is good publicity, but we're not sure that applies to this story!

SeaWorld is fighting ridiculously hard to keep its trainers ridiculously close to killer whales.

They are currently in negotiations with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as the two try and decide on a settlement from a scary case from over three years ago!

They may be inching towards an agreement where trainers will not be allowed near the whales in the water, but may still get close if they're on land.

But an expert thinks such a settlement may be the wrong move!

Here's what an expert said:

“The government’s position was strong. I hope OSHA won’t give any leeway on this. If they do, they will really be compromising trainer safety. Any time a killer whale can actually make contact with you, you are not safe. It is complete arrogance on SeaWorld’s part to suggest otherwise.”

We're curious to see how this case turns out!

Lives may hang in the balance.

Stay tuned!!!

[Image via Wikimedia Commons.]

Tags: fight, legal battle, seaworld, tactics, trainers, whales

Debbie Blalock says – reply to this

1

Only folks who don't acknowledge that orcas don't belong in theme parks are the ones making money from exploitation. Read "Death At SeaWorld" by David Kirby or see the new documentary "Blackfish" which just premiered at Sundance. Once you know, you don't go!
LindieO says – reply to this

2

You don't have to look any deeper than the surface of the water to get a sense that SeaWorld cares little for the safety of its trainers, or the health of its killer whales. What they seem to care about instead is profits, and creating a big splash of a show for an audience deliberately kept ignorant of just how unnatural and cruel this venue of "entertainment" is. It's long been known that orcas get frustrated to the point of aggression against humans in these tiny tanks crammed with huge, often incompatible, tank mates. SeaWorld has hidden that fact from the public since its conception, and is still trying to hide it now. I look forward to the movie "Blackfish" being seen in wide release so that people can make a truly informed choice on where NOT to spend their entertainment dollar.
Debbie Blalock says – reply to this

3

Re: LindieO – I agree with your comment. If OSHA capitulates to SeaWorld, it's putting a corporation's desires above the mandate of safety. SeaWorld has thrown down a banana peel, OSHA. Don't trip on it.

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