🐬 Dolphins in Captivity at Mediterraneo Marine Park: Our Stand

vuciwebsite
Jun 26
4 min read

At Vuċi għall-Annimali, our position is clear:

We are against all animals being held in captivity, whether for entertainment, tourism, personal egos or profit.

Vuċi għall-Annimali is a TV and media content house, and we take pride in producing content that is grounded in research, facts, and consultation across multiple fields — from animal behaviour to veterinary science, ethics, and law.

👉 While we strongly oppose Mediterraneo Marine Park and everything it represents, we need to understand the legal and contractual rights (and obligations) the operator currently has and also the implications that any action may have even on the well-being of the animals we wish to protect:

This issue cannot be solved with the click of a finger. It is complex, layered, and involves legal, contractual (as the land is owned by the Land Authority, leased to the operator) logistical, medical, and ethical challenges — all of which must be addressed responsibly.

Let us also be clear, we believe that NO wild animal should spend a lifetime behind bars, in tanks, or on display.

Captivity denies animals their freedom, natural behaviour, and dignity. And yet, right here in Malta, dolphins are still being used to entertain crowds at Mediterraneo Marine Park — a practice we believe belongs in the past.

We are deeply grateful to all those who are speaking up, tagging us, and raising awareness. Here is our comprehensive position, based on our understanding of the facts and options to date.

The state of the pools that the dolphins are living in

🧑‍⚖️ Legal Loopholes: A Zoo in Name, a Circus in Practice

Mediterraneo Marine Park operates under a zoo license issued through Subsidiary Legislation 439.08 – the Zoo Regulations, under Malta’s Animal Welfare Act.

But let’s be honest: what educational or conservation value is there in dolphins jumping through hoops for a clapping audience? These shows are more fitting of a circus, and the current legislation — instead of protecting animals — has been bent to accommodate this very facility.

🧾 Regulation 4 of SL 439.08 requires that zoos:

Contribute to conservation and education,
Support scientific research benefiting the species,
Raise public awareness of biodiversity.

Clearly, Mediterraneo is failing on all three fronts. Therefore:

✅ We believe the license must be revoked,

✅ No breeding permits or replacement/import permits should be issued,

✅ And Malta must update its legislation to prohibit the keeping of cetaceans in captivity.

Countries like Canada, France, and the UK have already taken steps in this direction. It’s time for Malta to catch up.

🌍 Relocating the Dolphins: A Complex Reality

One of the most common questions we hear is: Can’t the dolphins be released into the sea or sent to a sanctuary?

It’s a valid and important question, but the answer isn’t simple.

❌ No Sea Pen Option in Malta

Malta does not have the physical, environmental, or legislative conditions required for a sea pen sanctuary.

Our coastline is exposed, shallow, and heavily trafficked.
There are no suitable, sheltered coves with clean, protected waters that could offer long-term care.
Moreover, current laws do not support the operation of marine mammal sanctuaries.

A sanctuary, by definition, must provide vast space, security from boat traffic and pollution, and professional veterinary and behavioural care — something that cannot be achieved locally.

🦠 Origin Matters: These Dolphins Are Not from the Mediterranean

This is a critical point: The dolphins at Mediterraneo are not Mediterranean species — they reportedly originate from Cuba, a country known for its history of wild-caught dolphin exports.

This creates a serious problem:

Releasing them into local waters is ecologically dangerous — Cuban dolphins are non-native and could disrupt local ecosystems.

Even The Dolphin Project, one of the few organisations working on re-adaptation and release, has made it clear that each dolphin must be assessed individually — and that not all can be relocated or released, especially those that are non-native or medically compromised.

🧠 The Ethical Bottom Line

Whether or not they can be moved, one thing is crystal clear: these dolphins should not continue performing tricks for the entertainment of tourists and locals.

They cannot leave,
They cannot retire,
And they cannot express natural behaviours in a barren tank with amplified music and screaming crowds.

This is not conservation. It is cruelty dressed up as education.

📢 What Needs to Happen

🚫 Revoke Mediterraneo’s zoo license
🛑 Stop breeding, replacing, or acquiring dolphins and other animals for entertainment
🧑‍⚖️ Reform legislation to ban cetacean captivity
🐬 Push for a long-term welfare plan for the animals already held
Ensure Malta never again becomes a loophole for animal exploitation

🌊 Support the Global Movement: Empty the Tanks

For over 10 years, the international campaign Empty the Tanks has been working to end dolphin and whale captivity around the world. Through protests, education, and community action, they shine a light on the cruelty behind marine parks and call for the protection of all cetaceans.

Every year, activists and animal lovers come together to speak up — not just online, but in the streets, outside parks, and in front of decision-makers.

📆 We strongly encourage you to attend Empty the Tanks Malta event next year, show up in solidarity, and be part of a global wave of change.

It’s more than a protest — it’s a stand for freedom.