Living
16:27 07/04/2021
The Brussels Capital-Region has official banned keeping marine mammals, which include seals, sea lions, whales and dolphins. The ban means that a marine mammal park will never be allowed to operate in Brussels borders, nor any other business that keeps such animals in an enclosed habitat.
Brussels is not, in fact, home to any such park, but the ban ensures that a permit for this kind of endeavour can never be granted. It also issues a challenge to the rest of Belgium – and to surrounding countries – to end the keeping of marine mammals in captivity.
Keeping the animals – and having them perform for the public – “is still allowed in Flanders and Wallonia,” Brussels animal welfare minister Bernard Clerfayt (Défi) said. “We hope that our measure encourages them to ban this as well.”