Given the importance of animal welfare and the work carried out globally by Marine Connection, we are delighted to report that the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill passed its final stage in the House of Lords on September 18 2023. It will soon become law and is a huge step forward in helping to protect captive animals abroad. Activity types covered will be set out in regulations, but should include those where animals (such as dolphins and whales in captivity), are subject to unnecessary suffering or are kept in confinement for use in the name of ‘entertainment tourism.’
The Bill, which is a crucial step forward in helping to end the captivity and suffering of those who have no voice, currently only applies to England and Northern Ireland, we are however hopeful that Scotland and Wales will support this new piece of legislation, making it UK-wide. Various travel/tour operators in the UK, including Jet2 and TUI, sell/advertise facilities abroad to their customers that display captive animals, this new law will stop such companies from doing so. The last UK dolphinarium closed its door in the early 90s yet captive animal encounters remain popular with British tourists with many regularly booking activities when on holiday abroad, for ‘experiences’ such as swim-with-dolphins or elephant rides.
