Attendance has dropped the most at the San Diego location, and the decision to end orca shows will be limited for now to that park, the original home of Shamu, its first orca.
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A new killer whale experience will open in 2017, described as “informative” and taking place in a more natural setting with a “conservation message inspiring people to act”. The documentary sparked so much controversy that attendance declined, and profits have fallen by million this year alone.
“We are listening to our guests, evolving as a company, we are always changing”, said Seaworld chief Joel Manby.
The show will stop in the San Diego branch of SeaWorld but other whale shows will continue at the San Antonio, Texas, and Orlando Florida branches of the park.
Siemny Kim heard from Michael Harris with the Pacific Whale Watch Association for KIRO 7 News at 5 p.m.
Manby referred to the redesigned attraction as a “show” in a more natural pool that would be an orca experience with the kinds of activities whales tend to do in the wild, which includes jumping and splashing but no tricks.
Want to talk about the news of the day? And now, after a really long time and an internet fight for the ages, SeaWorld has announced that their orca show will come to a halt sometime next year.
Currently, SeaWorld has 24 orcas in all three parks combined.
The company has said it plans to challenge that decision in court.
SeaWorld has faced criticism and falling revenues since the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which showed killer whales being kept captive.
For decades, Seaworld has been an important part of San Diego’s economy.
California Congressman Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, has said he’ll introduce a bill to prohibit trade in killer whales, block their capture in the wild and outlaw the breeding of captive orca.
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He announced that the company is considering adding hotels at its parks, starting with San Diego, to attract overnight visitors. On Monday Manby reaffirmed the company’s dedication to fighting the commission, calling it a “bad precedent not just for us but for all zoos and aquariums”.
