A new piece of legislation intended to protect killer whales could actually harm the species as a whole, according to an aquarium trainer.
A California lawmaker wants to ban keeping orcas in captivity for the famous shows featuring the killer whales, CNN reported.
State Assemblyman Richard Bloom is proposing a law that forbids the captivity of orcas for entertainment purposes, something that doesn't currently come under federal law.
But the legislation "collapses under its own weight of inconsistencies, particularly with respect to animal welfare and future breeding," Grey Stafford of Arizona's Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium, a former orca trainer, told CNN.
"We still have a lot to learn about the killer whales," Stafford said.
He believes the orca shows are vital to keep the animal in the social consciousness.
"I am more concerned about the welfare of all species," Stafford told CNN. "Out of sight means out of mind."
The legislation would cease all captivity of killer whales in California for entertainment, end captive breeding programs and stop the import and export of orcas in the state.
"It is time that we embrace that the long-accepted practice of keeping orcas captive for human amusement must end," Bloom said at a press conference on Friday, as reported by CNN.
The proposal comes soon after the documentary "Blackfish," which was produced by Magnolia Pictures and acquired by CNN Films. The film is the story of notorious killer whale Tilikium, who causes the death of three people, including a trainer.
The documentary's director, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, has supported Bloom's proposed legislation, along with two former SeaWorld orca trainers and an animal welfare activist, according to CNN.
"This is about greed and this is about corporate exploitation, both of the whales and the trainers, but most importantly the whales," John Hargrove, a former SeaWorld orca trainer who resigned in August 2012, told CNN.
SeaWorld has called those promoting the bill "extreme animal rights activists" and criticized the legislation.
"The premise behind this proposed legislation is severely flawed on multiple levels, and its validity is highly questionable under the United States and California Constitutions," Bides said in a statement, as quoted by CNN. "We trust that our leaders who are responsible for voting on this proposal will recognize the clear bias of those behind the bill."
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