The Vancouver Aquarium has launched a lawsuit challenging the validity of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation’s July 31st resolutions regarding the acquisition and keeping of cetaceans in captivity.
The aquarium said the resolutions “serve no municipal purpose” and that they are beyond the park board’s jurisdiction.
“The filing asks that the validity of the resolutions bereviewed in light of the park board’s legal authority as a municipal organization,” said Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO John Nightingale.
“The resolutions raise significant concerns given the risks and impractical nature of proposed changes to the park bylaw under which cetaceans can be acquired and kept in Vancouver’s parks.”
Nightingale went on to say that with overfishing and marine pollution becoming increasingly problematic, human intervention is required and that the aquarium’s mandate is to address this.
“Now is not the time to be doing less to protect and preserve our ocean environments,” he said. “The resolutions put forth by the park board restrict the aquarium’s ability to fully continue its mandate.”
An independent report commissioned by the park board found that if the aquarium were to no longer house cetaceans, the quality of the program would be compromised.
