The Senate of Mexico has unified its efforts and voted to ban exhibitions of dolphins and other marine mammals. This decision is the result of a three-year legislative initiative prompted by public dissatisfaction regarding the conditions in which these animals are kept.
In the vote, 99 senators participated, all voting "in favor" of the amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, which prohibit the capture and breeding of marine mammals, except for scientific research.
Despite the resistance from dolphinarium owners, who are labeled as "animal prisons," the implementation of amendments passed in 2022 was delayed. These amendments prohibited the use of dolphins and seals in entertainment events and interactions with tourists.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted this bill as a priority during a special session of Congress, emphasizing its importance in the context of preventing animal cruelty.
We are against any violence, and especially cruelty to animals can lead to violence against people, Sheinbaum noted.
The law, named the "Mincho Law" in honor of a dolphin that suffered at the Barceló Maya Grand resort in Quintana Roo, represents an important step in animal protection.
This legislative innovation also prohibits the breeding of marine mammals in captivity, except for reintroduction programs. It became possible due to stricter enforcement of the law after months of inadequate enforcement of previous regulations.
Support for the law came from both the ruling coalition and the opposition. The main goal of the reform is to end the forced breeding of dolphins and other marine mammals, as well as to completely stop their use in entertainment shows, which had previously been popular in the country.
No marine mammal should be subjected to extractive exploitation, except in cases necessary for population recovery in the wild, states the official document.
Dr. Claudia Edwards, director of the Humane World for Animals Mexico program supporting the bill, noted:
This vote is a significant step toward ending the exploitation of marine mammals for entertainment purposes, as well as an important step forward in animal protection and biodiversity conservation in Mexico. We congratulate lawmakers on their commitment to wildlife protection and the ethical coexistence of humans and animals.
The ban took effect immediately, and relevant regulations for its enforcement will be developed within a year.
According to the new law, there are about 350 dolphins in Mexico that need to be transferred to marine enclosures. Whales and other cetaceans can only be kept in open water bodies. The use of concrete pools is now prohibited, and animals must be kept in conditions with constant water exchange.
The amendment strictly prohibits the capture of marine mammals in the wild, their breeding, and keeping in captivity, except for scientific research aimed at the protection and conservation of species.
Scientific research can only be conducted by registered academic institutions with an approved protocol from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
Reasons for the Ban on Dolphin Shows
In March, the Federal Prosecutor for Environmental Protection of Mexico (Profepa) temporarily suspended performances at Barceló Maya after a video surfaced showing the dolphin Mincho landing on concrete. Last year, there were also reports of the deaths of two other dolphins, Alex and Plata.
Following this, Profepa announced the start of inspections of all dolphinariums in the country to ensure proper treatment of animals.
By mid-May, Profepa permanently closed Dolphinaris Barceló and imposed a fine of over 7.5 million pesos (about $395,000) on the company. Mincho survived, but at 35 years old, he has become the oldest dolphin in his new dolphinarium and suffers from chronic keratitis in both eyes.
The incident involving the dolphin Mincho sparked widespread public outcry and calls for the closure of all dolphinariums in Mexico, where there are about 30 facilities, most of which are located in Quintana Roo.
The new law guarantees care for animals in captivity and introduces severe penalties for non-compliance with the rules.
Environmental authorities confirmed their commitment to ensuring compliance with the new regulations during a meeting with Empty the Tanks activists and promised to review all permits for keeping wildlife in captivity.
Thus, these dolphinariums, which were once considered some of the best in the world, are also undergoing changes. The Senate vote marked the culmination of years of efforts to ban the capture and exploitation of marine mammals, driven by public outrage over animal cruelty.
