A judge ruled Wednesday that federal investigators from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration were within their rights to recommend that SeaWorld trainers performing with killer whales be protected by a physical barrier for safety, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The strict safety ruling could forever alter SeaWorld’s iconic killer-whale shows and could prevent the trainers from going back in the water with the whales during performances, the Sentinel reports.
However, the ruling is only limited to trainers' interactions with the killer whales during performances.
The judge, Ken S. Welsch, also stated that banning any “water work” with the killer whales wouldn’t hinder SeaWorld economically, as the Orlando-based theme park still posted record earnings in 2011 while the trainers were prohibited from water work following trainer Dawn Brancheau’s February 2010 death after being killed by a six-ton killer whale, the Sentinel reports.
SeaWorld to appeal killer whale trainer safety ruling
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainmentwill appeal the federal judge’s ruling forbidding trainers from unprotected contact with killer whales during performances, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
The Orlando-based park said Tuesday it has submitted a petition to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission to review the ruling, the Sentinel reports.
Unless commissioners grant a review of the ruling, the judge’s decision will be final on July 16.
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