MEP Francisco Guerreiro wants an end to the exploitation of dolphins at Zoomarine and Lisbon Zoo

Brussels, 28 June 2023 - The event organized in Brussels aimed to bring together various entities, biologists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss the need for the European Union (EU) to promote the gradual end of the exploitation of cetaceans for human entertainment, and the creation of sanctuaries for the dignified end of life of these animals if there is no possibility of their survival in marine ecosystems.


The event highlighted the many concerns about keeping these animals in aquariums, including the unnatural conditions in which they are forced to live, resulting in welfare problems and the inability to exhibit natural behaviors.


Francisco Guerreiro MEP supported the creation of EU legislation banning the exploitation and display of these marine mammals, including an end to their breeding and importation, as well as preventing the establishment of new dolphinariums. She also supported the gradual removal of these animals from their current captivity and their transfer to seaside sanctuaries.

“We have a long coastline and our country could be at the forefront of rehabilitating these animals, and could even form partnerships with biology faculties and attract outside scientific expertise. Little can be learned from seeing animals trapped in aquariums, contrary to the promises made by Zoomarine and other zoos; but a lot can be learned from rehabilitating these animals and observing them in the wild,” said the MEP. 

The NGO Dolphinaria Free Europe (DFE), which represents several national animal protection organizations at European level, presented its study with policy recommendations for the European Union to gradually achieve an end to the captivity of dolphins and other cetaceans. DFE spokesperson Margaux Dodds commented: “For decades, dolphins, whales and porpoises have been forced to perform in circuses for the reward of dead fish, while living in sterile cement tanks. The scientific evidence is conclusive: cetaceans suffer in captivity.”
 
“Keeping cetaceans in captivity is cruel. None of the EU's dolphinariums meet the requirements of Directive 1999/22/EC, including Zoomarine and Lisbon Zoo. We must put an end to these archaic attractions in Portugal and in the European Union, and emphasize the protection in the wild of these highly intelligent creatures,” adds Francisco Guerreiro MEP.

Currently, there are still 30 dolphinariums housing around 300 individual cetaceans in 14 EU Member States. Several jurisdictions around the world, including in the European Union (e.g. Croatia and Slovenia), already ban the import of captive dolphins and/or cetaceans and other countries are discussing the issue (France) - indicating that there is momentum towards a Europe free from the exploitation of these animals.


In Portugal there are around 32 dolphins in captivity: 26 at Zoomarine and 6 at Lisbon Zoo. Protests against the exploitation of these animals have become more frequent, with the last one taking place in June 2023 at Zoomarine in the Algarve.


There are around 32 dolphins in captivity in Portugal: 26 at Zoomarine and 6 at Lisbon Zoo. Protests against the exploitation of these animals have become more frequent, with the last one taking place in June 2023. In 2019, World Animal Protection included Zoomarine in a list of 12 places to avoid for animal abuse, after finding that the animals were repeatedly forced to carry boats with children in circles, used as surfboards, forced to perform 'tricks' to loud music, among others.

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