March 20, 2014

Supplemental Information
Animal Control and Welfare Commission
March 20, 2014

Item 6A: Support for AB2140, the California Orca Welfare and Safety Act
Background Information from Commissioner Tenofsky

From Assemblymember Richard Bloom’s (D-Santa Monica) Press Release 3/7/14:
For years, the scientific community has raised serious concerns about having orcas in captivity...After humans, killer whales are thought to be the most socially and ecologically complex species on the planet. Scientists studying killer whales in the wild have documented the close social bonds these animals share. In fact orcas stay with their mothers their entire lives and their life trajectories are similar, in many ways, to humans. For example, orcas nurse for up to two years, reach sexual maturity around fourteen years, males reach social maturity around 20 years of age, females go through menopause between 40-45 years of age, males can live between 60-70 years, and females between 80-90 years.

As top predators, their cooperative hunting techniques and unique vocalizations demonstrate highly evolved learned behavior, what many call culture. Yet captive orcas are almost solely used for performing or breeding to maintain stocks at amusement parks. They are separated from their offspring, live in pods that are artificial and made up of unrelated individuals, and live their entire lives in concrete tanks that are only a fraction of the size of their natural habitat.

“There is no justification for the continued captive display of orcas for entertainment purposes. These beautiful creatures are much too large and far too intelligent to be confined in small, concrete tanks for their entire lives,” said Bloom. “It is time to end the practice of keeping orcas captive for human amusement.”

“In their natural habitat orcas are family-oriented, highly adaptable, socially-complex with cultural traditions and trail only humans as the most intelligent creatures on this planet. However, in captivity, they have shorter lifespans, show increased health problems, live in swimming pool sized habitat that are approximately one ten-thousandth the required size and demonstrate aggressive behavior towards one another and towards humans that has never been documented in the wild. They simply do not belong in captivity,” said Bloom.

Among other things, AB2140 would end performance based entertainment for all orcas in the state, end captive breeding programs, the import and export or orcas, and would require all currently captive orcas to be retired to sea pens.
Recommendation:
That the SF Board of Supervisors support California Assemblymember Richard Bloom’s (D- Santa Monica) California Captive Orca Welfare and Safety Act (AB2140).

Item 6B: Support for the Right of Safe Passage for Whales and Dolphins in the Waters near San Francisco
Proposed Resolution from Commissioner Tenofsky

Resolution supporting the right of safe passage of whales and dolphins in the waters near San Francisco.

WHEREAS, scientific evidence has shown whales and dolphins to be highly intelligent, sentient, emotional marine mammals that live in families or close-knit socially oriented groups that last lifetimes and therefore deserve the right to their own freedom and lives; and

WHEREAS, the City of San Francisco has a long history of supporting efforts to protect marine mammals – including the adoption of Resolutions calling for their local and international protection. Resolutions, such as the ones in 2002, 2005, and 2010, that opposed the US Navy’s proposed sensor deployment tests, called for the expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuaries, and urged President Obama to oppose international commercial whaling; and

WHEREAS, it is every individual’s responsibility to ensure that these magnificent creatures are protected in their natural environment to avoid the psychological and physiological harm and high mortality rates found in those living in captivity; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors supports the free and safe passage of all whales and dolphins in our coastal waters, the San Francisco Bay and its estuaries, and encourages citizens to do all within their power to protect them and preserve their natural environment. That every individual whale and dolphin has the right to life, to be free of captivity or servitude, and the freedom to remain unrestricted in their natural environment with no State, corporation, human group or individual being able to undermine these basic liberties except for rehabilitative emergencies.