marine life
Katie Hylton
4/10/14
Mrs. Varner
Pre-AP English 11
The Evils of Marine Life in Entertainment In the passing years, marine life has come to the front of the entertainment business. Aquariums and sea life amusement parks, like SeaWorld, are hurting sea life animals. Is hurting and killing off marine life worth personal entertainment? No, sea life should only be held in captivity for extenuating reasons and entertainment is not one of them. In 1853 the first aquarium was opened in London, however aquariums were not commercialized until the 1960’s in America. At first aquariums were built to be learning facilities for people to learn about marine life. Humans over the years have made aquariums a multi-billion dollar entertainment business. Just in the last year, aquariums have brought in $2.47 billion dollars (enterprise committee). Are we humans focusing more on entertainment than the health of animals? Marine life breeding programs are damaging the lives of marine animals, by inbreeding among close relatives, relaxed natural selection, and unintentional domestication selection (Christiea).These actions are causing genetic disorders to appear and creating havoc. A study done with pink salmon has shown genetic mutation caused by a lack of natural selection is killing off each generation earlier and earlier (Christiea). Not only are we killing off animals early, the next generation only has a 71% chance of being reproductive (Essex). As humans, are we doing what is right by continuing these breeding practices? Captivity also brings out skin and eye diseases in marine mammals from the effects of chlorine. These majestic animals can’t even open their eyes under water because the chlorine is so bad (Kestin). The chlorine not only affects their eyesight, but their skin as well. The animal’s skin is so irritated that it just peels right off like a plastic wrapper from candy. It’s bad enough that humans use chlorine in marine animals’ water; a zoo in North
4/10/14
Mrs. Varner
Pre-AP English 11
The Evils of Marine Life in Entertainment In the passing years, marine life has come to the front of the entertainment business. Aquariums and sea life amusement parks, like SeaWorld, are hurting sea life animals. Is hurting and killing off marine life worth personal entertainment? No, sea life should only be held in captivity for extenuating reasons and entertainment is not one of them. In 1853 the first aquarium was opened in London, however aquariums were not commercialized until the 1960’s in America. At first aquariums were built to be learning facilities for people to learn about marine life. Humans over the years have made aquariums a multi-billion dollar entertainment business. Just in the last year, aquariums have brought in $2.47 billion dollars (enterprise committee). Are we humans focusing more on entertainment than the health of animals? Marine life breeding programs are damaging the lives of marine animals, by inbreeding among close relatives, relaxed natural selection, and unintentional domestication selection (Christiea).These actions are causing genetic disorders to appear and creating havoc. A study done with pink salmon has shown genetic mutation caused by a lack of natural selection is killing off each generation earlier and earlier (Christiea). Not only are we killing off animals early, the next generation only has a 71% chance of being reproductive (Essex). As humans, are we doing what is right by continuing these breeding practices? Captivity also brings out skin and eye diseases in marine mammals from the effects of chlorine. These majestic animals can’t even open their eyes under water because the chlorine is so bad (Kestin). The chlorine not only affects their eyesight, but their skin as well. The animal’s skin is so irritated that it just peels right off like a plastic wrapper from candy. It’s bad enough that humans use chlorine in marine animals’ water; a zoo in North
Cited: "A Dolphin Tale: The Real-Life Rescue Behind the Movie." News Watch. national geographic, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Christiea, Mark R. "Genetic Adaptation to Captivity Can Occur in a Single Generation." Genetic Adaptation to Captivity Can Occur in a Single Generation. PNSA, 14 July 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. COMMITTEE, ENTERPRISE . "Enterprise Committee." Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Aza, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. Essex, David . "Case against Marine Mammals in Captivity." marine connections . marine connections, n.d. Web. 12 May 2007. Kestin, Sally. "Marine Animal Exhibits: Chlorinated Prisons." PETA. PETA, n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. Kirby, David. "Baby Orca Born into Troubled ‘Family’ at SeaWorld." DEATH AT SEAWORLD Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity. Wordpress, 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Lee, Jane. "Former SeaWorld Trainer: Stop Using Killer Whales for Entertainment." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. Mccle, Barry . "Incidents between humans and killer whales in captivity -a longer list than the parks would like to tell you!. "Sea Turtle Species." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2014