Yesterday, 4 March, was a day for positive action. Marine Connection joined animal welfare charities at the Houses of Parliament asking MPs to ‘Get Their ACT Together’ and finalise the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act which could prohibit the sale and advertising in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland of cruel and abusive overseas animal activities such as dolphin and whale shows, big cats performing in circus and elephant rides – none that would meet legal welfare standards here in the UK. Yet two years on, we are still waiting for the Secretary of State to develop the ‘activity regulations’ that will specify exactly which activities will be banned from being advertised and sold.
Together, we also delivered a letter to the Prime Minister at Downing Street calling for immediate action to implement the legislation that Parliament has already approved and bring it into force.
Animals exploited for entertainment abroad deserve protection too. It’s time to finish the job. We will get this Act over the line.
Read the open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister in full here
