It has been brought to our attention that Seaworld has applied to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in the USA to import a male beluga whale from Vancouver Aquarium to Seaworld, San Antonio, Texas for public display.

Marine Connection director Margaux Dodds comments; "The continued transfer of marine mammals to facilities around the world for display is concerning and we question why Seaworld feel the need to transfer this animal from Canada and why NMFS would consider sending a beluga to this facility which has already a record of 11 beluga deaths, the latest being Nico in October 2009. Nico was transferred, along with two female belugas, whilst renovation works were being undertaken at Georgia Aquarium, but died at Seaworld within a month of arrival at the facility. If this latest transfer is simply to add to Seaworld's existing beluga interaction programme we feel NMFS should refuse the transfer and have written to them stating our concern."

Seaworld was purchased by private equity firm Blackstone in 2009 for a reported $2.7billion. Blackstone have majority ownership of Merlin Entertainments whose UK brands include Sealife Centres, Madame Tussauds and Chessington World of Adventures/Zoo and Alton Towers.