MEDIA RELEASE: 26 FEBRUARY 2021 

NEW REGULATIONS END BREEDING OF DOLPHINS FOR ENTERTAINMENT IN NSW

MP says the days of seeing dolphins performing humiliating tricks in a backyard pool are numbered

Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst has welcomed new regulations introduced by the NSW Environment Minister, which will effectively stop any future dolphin ‘abuse-ment’ park from setting up in NSW and end the breeding of cetaceans for commercial purposes. 

The Regulations come off the back of an Upper House Parliamentary inquiry where Ms Hurst served as Deputy Chair. The inquiry confirmed dolphinariums are a dying business model, and made recommendations that the NSW Government effectively end the breeding of dolphins in entertainment venues.

“With these regulations the abuse of dolphins in so-called entertainment is effectively done and dusted in New South Wales. There will be no more dolphins spending their lives held captive and forced to perform humiliating circus-style tricks for a dwindling number of spectators,” said Ms Hurst.

“These regulations were urgently needed to ensure no more animals are being born into a collapsing industry. A dolphin born today could live for up to 50 years, meaning they could still be in a dolphinarium in 2070.

“New South Wales is sending a strong message to Sea World on the Gold Coast that they are never welcome to set up here in our state. With these new regulations, Queensland is now the only state in Australia still breeding dolphins for entertainment and it’s becoming a global embarrassment.

“There is now only one remaining dolphin park in New South Wales - Dolphin Marine Conservation Park in Coffs Harbour. During our inquiry, operators of this facility indicated they support an end to breeding in New South Wales and have publicly recognised that dolphin shows are no longer supported by the community.

“Given these new regulations around breeding from the Government, we are very hopeful that they will also agree to the inquiry’s recommendation to support a feasibility study into what could be a world first sea sanctuary to retire the remaining dolphins in New South Wales. 

“We now have the opportunity to give these dolphins a vestige of the life that was stolen from them – and these new regulations will ensure no other animal is ever put in their place.

“After so many years of allowing exploitation, it’s encouraging that New South Wales is listening to experts and the community, and finally catching up with the global movement to protect these animals.

“The writing is on the wall – these animals were not born to perform. They do not exist for our entertainment. They deserve a life worth living, and New South Wales has recognised this with these new regulations,” said Ms Hurst.

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