Cetacean vote: Fate of whale rescues at Vancouver Aquarium to be decided

The Vancouver Park Board is expected tovote Monday nightto amend a bylaw that would ban bringing any new cetaceansinto the Vancouver Aquarium, even injured or endangered ones.

The proposed bylaw will "prohibit the importation and display" of live cetaceans porpoises, whales or dolphins at the aquarium.

The commissioners are also expected toapprove the newchanges.

John Nightingale, CEO of the aquarium, has argued the bylawcould be harmful aseven whales in distress would not be allowedin to the aquarium.

"I think they'll probably pass it," said John Nightingale, CEO of the aquarium.

"I think the politicians have kind of boxed themselves into a corner, and despite 94 per cent public support for keeping the rescue program.I think they'll eliminate it."

Rescue and release

If the latest amendments are approved, the aquarium will still be able rescue cetaceans, but will have to find somewhere else to keep them.

"The Vancouver Park Board wants to continue our efforts to work with the Vancouver Aquarium moving forward and the commissioners are 100 per cent behind the marine mammal centre," saidPark Board chair MichaelWiebewho supports the ban.

The Marine Mammal Rescue Centreis used to treat sick and inured marine mammals, but not house them.

Nightingale says if the new changes are approved it will mean job lossesand a major restructuring of the aquarium.

Monday's park board meeting will begin at 7 p.m. PT.

• John Nightingale's song to save a place for whales hits some wrong notes
• Vancouver Park Board releases draft plan to end cetacean display
• Vancouver Park Board votes to end display of cetaceans at aquarium

with files from Jon Hernandez and Yvette Brend.