On 28 June 2023, Dolphinaria-Free Europe met with Members of the European Parliament at an event hosted by MEPs Francisco Guerreiro and Pascal Durand, to discuss why captivity is not a suitable environment for whales, dolphins, and porpoises and why the coalition wants legislation prohibiting the exploitation and display cetaceans across the European Union, including ending their breeding and importation.
A background on DFE was given by the Chair of the coalition, Margaux Dodds (Marine Connection), followed by presentations from Dr Naomi Rose (Animal Welfare Institute), Nick Stewart (World Animal Protection), Dr Ingrid Visser (Orca Research Trust), Matthew Spiegl (Free Morgan Foundation), Muriel Arnal (One Voice), Olga Kikou (Compassion In World Farming) and Sofia Esteves da Silva (PhD Student). The meeting concluded with a public Q&A session.
The two-hour live-streamed session is available below.
Today on World Day for Captive Dolphins, all members of Dolphinaria-Free Europe commit to continue to call for the phasing out of facilities holding captive dolphins and whales throughout Europe, aiming that this generation of captive cetaceans is the last.
Never has there been more need for ending the breeding and trade of captive dolphins and whales. At a recent event in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium hosted by MEP Francisco Guerreiro to discuss why captivity is not a suitable environment for cetaceans, Dolphinaria-Free Europe launched its policy brief “Safe and Thriving Whales and Dolphins in the European Union – a How-To Guide”, which outlines the coalition’s legislative proposals to the European Union for ensuring the wellbeing of all captive whales and dolphins in the EU.
Dolphinaria-Free Europe members are all dedicated to seeing the ending of breeding, retaining, and displaying dolphins, whales, and porpoises in captivity in Europe. In March 2023, the UK celebrates 30 years free of dolphinaria in the country, and UK member organisation Marine Connection co-founder and Dolphinaria-Free Europe Chair, Margaux Dodds celebrates this milestone, however, she highlights the need for a permanent ban on importation and display to be established to ensure the UK remains free from this industry.