Mexico Bans Marine Mammal Shows, Marking the End of an Era for Dolphin Entertainment

Mexico City — In a unanimous 99-0 vote, the Mexican Senate has passed sweeping reforms to the General Wildlife Law that ban the use of marine mammals in entertainment shows. The legislation prohibits the capture, breeding, and commercial exhibition of dolphins, seals, and orcas—placing Mexico at the forefront of animal welfare protections in Latin America.

This reform builds on the 2022 Chamber of Deputies’ approval and now heads back to the lower house for final enactment. Once fully implemented, the law will forbid marine mammal performances unless they serve scientific, conservation, or educational purposes. Facilities violating the law will face sanctions, permit revocations, and mandatory surrender or relocation of animals in captivity.

“The Last Generation” of Captive Dolphins

Senator Maki Esther Ortiz Domínguez, chair of the Senate Environment Committee, called this “the last generation” of marine mammals in captivity for entertainment in Mexico. Fellow legislator Lizeth Sánchez García decried such spectacles as a form of “normalized violence,” echoing a growing scientific consensus about the psychological and physical harm of captivity.

Animal welfare groups have long criticized Mexico’s dolphinariums, particularly those operating in popular tourist destinations like the Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta, where dolphins are confined to small enclosures and forced to perform for paying audiences.

The Billion-Peso Dolphin Industry

One of the most prominent figures in this now-outlawed industry is Ventura Entertainment and its founder Arturo “Art” Navarro. The Luces del Siglo editorial highlights how Navarro, once hailed for bringing innovation to tourism through his dolphin shows, created a billion-peso empire by commercializing marine mammals.

Navarro began importing dolphins in the 1990s and developed more than a dozen dolphinariums throughout Mexico, offering swim-with-dolphin experiences that drew millions of tourists. According to the article, his facilities were often housed in shopping centers, hotels, and cruise ports, targeting travelers seeking an “interactive marine experience.”

But behind the scenes, critics argue, was a different reality: chronic stress, spatial deprivation, and exploitation disguised as conservation. Navarro’s ventures—while lucrative—also sparked waves of protest, especially from international organizations condemning marine mammal captivity as unethical and obsolete.

A Shift Toward Ethical Tourism

In recent years, public pressure, environmental science, and changing consumer values have weakened the business case for animal-based attractions. Countries such as India, Canada, and Chile have enacted similar restrictions or bans, and the United States has moved toward stronger welfare standards in aquariums and zoos.

Mexico’s move signals a broader shift away from animal exploitation toward more sustainable and ethical tourism models. The reforms align with global trends and acknowledge the country’s responsibility to preserve its marine biodiversity—especially as the Mexican Caribbean is home to species increasingly threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and tourism development.

What Happens Next

Once ratified by the Chamber of Deputies, the new law will require marine mammals currently in captivity to be relocated or cared for under strict conservation protocols. Additional reforms also prohibit the use of primates in entertainment and enhance oversight of all captive wildlife.

Arturo Navarro’s era of dolphinariums—once synonymous with Mexico’s tourism boom—is now coming to a close. As critics of the industry long argued, marine mammals belong in the ocean, not in chlorinated enclosures. This reform may mark not just the end of a controversial chapter, but the beginning of a more responsible future for tourism and wildlife in Mexico.