What changed for SeaWorld after the OSHA case was finalized?

The Solicitor of Labor's brief on behalf of Secretary Thomas Perez noted SeaWorld stopped allowing trainers to be in the water with killer whales after Brancheau's death and has separated them with barriers or distance, which were the abatement measures proposed by OSHA in this case.



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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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In 2010, following an investigation into the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) slapped SeaWorld with safety citations and $75,000 in fines.

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In 2016, SeaWorld announced that we were ending our killer whale breeding program and that the orcas in our care are the last generation at our park.

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Since opening in Orlando in 1964, SeaWorld has long been criticized by animal rights groups who alleged that the whale, dolphins and other sea creatures being kept in captivity and trained to perform tricks for people are being mistreated.

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SeaWorld Attraction Causes Controversy Ahead of New Event An independent review refers to a trio of whales involved in the death of trainer Keltie Byrne. It continues to reference other deaths of the staff working with these beautiful creatures, citing the death of Daniel Dukes.

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ORLANDO, Fla. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited SeaWorld of Florida LLC for three safety violations, including one classified as willful, following the death of an animal trainer in February. The total penalty is $75,000.

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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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As of 2021, SeaWorld has ended its use of orcas in its shows and breeding program. In 2016, SeaWorld announced that it would no longer breed orcas in captivity and that its current orcas would be its last.

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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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As of September 20, 2023 there are: 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 the year following Blackfish's release, SeaWorld's attendance dropped by one million visitors. In 2014, the company announced an 84% fall in income and saw its share price drop by 33%, although they attributed this to 'the seasonal nature of the business' and not due to the impact of the documentary.

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SeaWorld's legacy of animal rescue spans more than 50 years. In that time, SeaWorld's Rescue Teams have come to the aid of more than 40,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals in need, giving them a second chance at life.

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SeaWorld apparently did not see it that way, and the killer whale shows have continued as before, only now the trainers do not perform any water work with the orcas. This of course saves trainers from being attacked but does nothing to relieve orcas from the frustrations and anxieties of incarceration.

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