I was sitting at home having dinner a few days ago and I saw three people rallying in front of the Manila Ocean Park. Now I do not know whether there were actually three people rallying or more but from what was shown on the telly there were three. Apologies if there were more. One seemed to have been dressed up as a dolphin.
They were calling for the boycott of the Manila Ocean Park. Based on their statement on their campaign encapsulated in a post, Tell the Philippine Tourism Authority to Stop Promoting Cruelty to Animals!, and based on what they told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Boycott of Manila Ocean Park urged.They were calling for the boycott of the Manila Ocean Park because:
1. They object to the Philippine Tourism Authority’s promotion of the Manila Ocean Park.
2. They believe that there should not be public aquariums or aquariums in general because they cannot replicate the natural environment.
Other points they pushed for not keeping aquariums or public aquariums -
3. They object to keeping sea animals in captivity and the only thing marine park teach is that it is acceptable to keep animals in captivity - bored, restricted, lonely and far from their natural homes.
4. They also questioned what can be gained from watching marine animals swim in endless circles in concrete tanks full of chlorinated water.
5. They also called the life in a tank is literally a death sentence.
6. They also said or stated that scientific studies found that fish were intelligent animals that experienced stress and pain
7. They also cited reports from officials of the Tokyo Sea Life Park aquarium showing that some bluefin and yellowfin tuna developed deformed faces “because of the stress of swimming in a small tank.”
PETA believes that Marine Ocean Parks and aquariums should not exist. I respect that but I do not agree with it because:
An aquarium is an effective tool in learning and promoting the natural environment. Public aquariums, especially the Manila Ocean Park, maintain strict procedures in maintaining the aquariums and closely follow the known parameters of the said environment. A Public Aquarium is probably one of the few places well equipped in handling and keeping fishes.
There are special tanks called Biotope that actually replicates the environment where the fish came from. And with consistent water management and procedures water conditions are kept at what the fishes were accustomed to. And again given the budget and expertise of a public aquarium it is one of the few places that can actually keep, maintain and breed a number of fish species.
Other points brought up that needs to be clarified:
All aquariums, whether it be freshwater or saltwater, are decholorinated and cycled before any fish are put inside. This is the reason why a lot of aquarium shops are selling dechlorinators and the reason why you let water stand for a day.
Any aquarist worth his salt knows how intelligent fishes are and also know only too well how they can be stressed and in pain. And this is the reason it is important to manage an aquarium more so a public aquarium like the Manila Ocean Park. Keep everything in balance or equilibrium.
Understanding the fish and its environment is important in maintaining a balanced aquarium. And this is why not all fish can be kept in aquariums and this is the reason why only public aquariums, like the Manila Ocean Park, can keep certain type of fishes.
Do they offer a service or answer a need? Yes. Education, research and conservation.
Do they responsibly keep their aquariums? Yes, the Manila Ocean Park aside from investing in technology and adhering to strict practices of keeping aquariums have also networked with
several institutions like the World Wildlife Fund and experts so that they maintain a sound aquarium.
And so far I have seen no reason to boycott the Manila Ocean Park.