Joanna Lumley and Bryan Adams support petition for a ban on dolphin and whale captivity in the UK

UCKFIELD, U.K. - Jan. 9, 2024 - PRLog -- Dame Joanna Lumley and Bryan Adams have publicly supported calls by charity Marine Connection for a ban on the captivity of dolphins, whales and porpoises within the UK.

A petition has been launched on the UK Government Petitions site with the aim of closing the last remaining loophole to fully prevent the opening and operation of facilities that allow the captivity and display of cetaceans, something that is surprisingly still permitted by law.

In a statement to the charity, Dame Joanna Lumley expressed her concerns regarding this lack of legal clarity, which could potentially see cetaceans being held in captivity once again:

"You wouldn't think it necessary to insist on a permanent ban of dolphinaria in the UK: after all, they have been absent from these shores for thirty years, to our country's eternal credit," she says.

"But unless we urge the Government to pass a law forbidding them permanently, it is possible that a company could open a facility where whales and dolphins are kept for public entertainment, providing they meet the high standards of welfare already in place."

"This is unthinkably dreadful: we need a law to say ban dolphinaria forever. I support Marine Connection wholeheartedly."

Also showing support for Marine Connection's efforts, musician Bryan Adams added his own thoughts on the matter:

"I fully support Marine Connection's campaign," he says, "calling on the UK government to put a ban in place and end cetacean captivity in the country, once and for all."

Marine Connection's director, Margaux Dodds, expressed concern over the public's lack of awareness that the establishment of such facilities is still legal in the UK. There have even been suggestions that this lack of legal clarity isn't necessary due to existing animal welfare laws.

"The last thing we want to see happen is a situation where we're trying to close the barn door after the horse has bolted," she says. "Together with other groups and members of the public, we've worked incredibly hard to keep the UK free of captive facilities for 30 years."

"We simply cannot allow any possibility for another one of these facilities to operate, no matter how unlikely. The moment one opens, it's already too late, the suffering has already begun. Laying this into law would send a clear message that we as a country do not support the captivity of these beautiful, intelligent creatures for public display, entertainment or otherwise. It's time to put an end to this once and for all."

The charity appeals to the public to sign the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/650377 compelling the government to address the issue.