§ Lord Rotherwickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the United States' moratorium on interactive facilities with dolphins, in particular in neonatal care centres; and, if so, whether they will introduce a similar moratorium in the United Kingdom. [HL5008]
§ Lord WhittyThe Government have no details of a moratorium in the United States on interactive facilities with dolphins. However, we would certainly support this in line with efforts to conserve the species.
We are committed to the conservation of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), which in the United Kingdom are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Cetaceans have not been kept in UK zoos or aquariums for over a decade and so there is currently no need to consider a moratorium.