Media Statement: 40 Members of Congress call on USDA to update AWA

For Immediate Release:
May 29, 2014

The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations governing whale and dolphin confinement are archaic, woefully inadequate, and often unenforced. Social, intelligent, and complex orcas and dolphins are separated from their families, confined to tiny barren concrete tanks, deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, and forced to perform silly tricks at amusement parks such as SeaWorld. It’s time for the U.S. Department of Agriculture—the only agency tasked with enforcing the AWA—to step up and ensure the humane treatment of animals by enforcing strict regulations to protect those who are used for “entertainment” from systemic abuse.