The legislation requires activity regulations to set out the specific low-welfare activities that will be covered by the ban. Instead of bringing these regulations forward, the Government says it is now considering both legislative and non-legislative approaches. For the animals suffering in the global tourism industry, this continued delay means that nothing has changed.

Taking the campaign to Parliament

On Wednesday 4 March 2026, Marine Connection joined leading animal protection organisations at a parliamentary drop-in event calling on the Government to stop delaying implementation of the Act. More than 30 MPs and nine peers attended, demonstrating strong cross-party support for action. On the same day, Marine Connection co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister, delivered to 10 Downing Street, urging the Government to move forward with the legislation. Since then, parliamentary questions have continued to press the Government for a timetable. In July 2026, the Government was asked directly when it would bring forward the regulations. Its response again provided no timetable, stating only that Defra would set out next steps in due course.

The campaign is therefore continuing. The message from Marine Connection, animal protection organisations, parliamentarians, and the public is clear: the Government must stop delaying and implement the Act. The coalition includes Marine Connection, Born Free Foundation, PETA, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Save The Asian Elephants, Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, and World Animal Protection.

Dame Joanna Lumley is also supporting the campaign and has spoken out strongly against the continued delay. In June 2026, she called the Act “possibly the most significant item of legislation for animals this nation has seen” and urged the Government to stop relying on self-regulation and finally put the law into action.