Marine Connection welcomes the news that a ban on the breeding of captive dolphins in the Netherlands will finally be introduced. Junior Agriculture Minister Silvio Erkens stated in a letter that keeping these marine mammals in captivity prevents them from living natural lives and can lead to significant health and welfare problems. The legislation to implement the ban is expected to come into effect within the next two years. However, the timeline remains a concern, particularly as it has been more than nine years since a dolphin calf was born at Dolfinarium Harderwijk. Despite this, the facility is opposing the Dutch Government’s latest decision.
Dolphin shows will continue for the foreseeable future, and the breeding ban does not mean the park will close any time soon. Nevertheless, this decision marks an important step towards ending dolphin captivity in the Netherlands, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the current generation of captive dolphins will be the last.
