Did OSHA win the case against SeaWorld?

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, DC has upheld the fines and citations issued by OSHA against SeaWorld and has shot down SeaWorld's bid to overturn the lower court's ruling that the fines and citations were justified. Click HERE to read the full 35 page decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in PDF format.



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The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, DC has upheld the fines and citations issued by OSHA against SeaWorld and has shot down SeaWorld's bid to overturn the lower court's ruling that the fines and citations were justified.

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24, 2010. A 2-1 decision issued April 11 by a panel of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit found that SeaWorld recognized its precautions were inadequate to prevent serious bodily harm or even death to its trainers and that the residual hazard was preventable.

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SeaWorld appealed but the judges, in a 2-1 decision, agreed with OSHA's measures. “The administrative record establishes that SeaWorld did not lack fair notice because the hazard arising from trainers' close contact with killer whales in performance is preventable,” judges wrote.

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OSHA has issued one willful citation to SeaWorld for exposing its employees to struck-by and drowning hazards when interacting with killer whales. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

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The city of San Diego sued SeaWorld Thursday for allegedly failing to pay more than $12.2 million in rent, late fees, and interest. The lawsuit follows a pledge to move forward with litigation if SeaWorld did not pay back rent and other penalties by Wednesday.

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Taking action for animals trapped at SeaWorld has never been easier. Dozens of businesses—including JetBlue, Mattel, Mott's, Southwest Airlines, STA Travel, and Taco Bell—have severed ties with SeaWorld, yet companies such as AAA and Adventure Student Travel have refused to do the right thing.

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SeaWorld San Diego's theatrical Shamu show, One Ocean, will end Sunday and will be replaced this summer with a new Orca Encounter designed to showcase the killer whales' natural behaviors in the wild.

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SeaWorld announced today that it will end orca breeding at all of its marine parks and phase out its killer whale shows. The move comes after years of pressure by animal rights and animal welfare advocates, including some scientists who have argued that these animals shouldn't be kept in captivity.

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The 2013 documentary Blackfish sparked public outcry over SeaWorld's treatment of orcas, also known as killer whales, and the theme park has been suffering ever since: The loss of $1.7 billion in market capitalization the year of the film's release, plummeting attendance, and the loss of corporate partnerships.

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The estimated total pay for a Animal Trainer at SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is $21 per hour.

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Following Brancheau's death, Tilikum stayed at the park until he died in 2017 from a lung infection.

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SeaWorld owes $12.23 million in back-due rent going back to 2019, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said. SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. earned $1.7 billion in revenue last year, according to their 2022 report.

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PETA notes that “dolphins [at SeaWorld] are being impregnated, sometimes forcefully after being drugged.” Even moreso, PETA highlights how although orca whales generally stick within their pods their whole lifetime in the wild, “SeaWorld transfers orcas between facilities to regularly 'balance' the genetic pool of ...

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The legal action claims that the theme park owes $12.23 million in unpaid rent, penalties, and interest on the nearly 200-acres of city-owned property.

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As of September 20, 2023 there are: In the wild, male orcas live to an average of 30 years (maximum 50-60 years) and 46 years for females (maximum 80-90 years). At least 176 orcas have died in captivity, not including 30 miscarried or still-born calves. SeaWorld holds 18 orcas in its three parks in the United States.

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In 2018, SeaWorld and its former CEO agreed to pay $5 million to settle charges that the company misled investors about the negative impact that Blackfish was having on its business. After 33 years in captivity, Tilikum, the “killer whale” star subject of Blackfish, died in a SeaWorld tank.

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