Mexico Bans Dolphin Shows: What Happens to Captive Dolphins Now?

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Environmental activists and state authorities in Quintana Roo celebrated the unanimous Senate vote approving reforms to Article 60 Bis of Mexico’s General Wildlife Law (LGVS), which prohibits acrobatic shows featuring marine mammals and ends their captive breeding except for scientific or conservation purposes. Under the approved measure, dolphins currently in captivity must remain in their registered facilities under strict humane conditions until their natural deaths.

The amendment, dubbed “Mincho’s Law” by civil society groups, honors a dolphin named Mincho who crashed into the edge of a pool during a performance at a Riviera Maya hotel dolphinarium. The incident, which sparked public outrage, led to the permanent closure of the facility by Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).

A Decades-Long Victory for Activists

Araceli Domínguez, president of the Mayab Ecological Group (GEMA), called the Senate’s decision “a hard-won achievement after decades of struggle,” crediting the collective efforts of citizen-led movements. Domínguez Rodríguez, a leading environmental advocate with over 30 years of work in natural resource protection, emphasized the role of grassroots campaigns in advancing the legislation.

Activist Mónica Chavarria, a driving force behind Quintana Roo’s Animal Welfare Law, praised Domínguez as “the root of the movement defending captive mammals” and acknowledged organizations like Animal Heroes and Empty the Tanks for documenting abuses. Chavarria cited cases of mistreatment involving dolphins such as Plata and Makaiko.

SEMA Welcomes Reform but Raises Practical Concerns

While celebrating the Senate’s decision, Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), Óscar Rébora, cautioned that significant challenges lie ahead. The reforms—passed by the Senate on Monday—must still be approved by Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies. If enacted, they will require careful planning to ensure the welfare of captive marine mammals.

“If we release them, what happens next? Sanctuaries must be established. What conditions should they meet? Where will they be located? Who will oversee them? These discussions are just beginning,” Rébora stated in an interview with NewsDay Caribe and Periodismo Objetivo.

Rébora stressed that dolphins raised in captivity cannot simply be released into the wild, as they rely on scheduled feedings and trained behaviors. He warned against the risk of dolphins being sold to countries with weaker protections and emphasized the need for traceability and an end to forced breeding.

Key Provisions of the Approved Reform

The amended Article 60 Bis prohibits:

• The extractive exploitation of marine mammals.
• Their use in fixed or traveling entertainment shows, except for conservation or research.
• Captive breeding unless for scientific purposes (accidental births must be reported to SEMARNAT).

Transitional articles mandate:

• Relocating captive dolphins to marine pens (not concrete tanks) within 18 months of the law’s enactment.
• Banning activities like dorsal fin riding or mounting dolphins.
• Submitting a detailed inventory of captive mammals to SEMARNAT and Profepa within 90 days.

Registered dolphins may remain in captivity until death, but no new unregistered specimens or offspring may be added.

Economic and Employment Implications

Quintana Roo, home to Mexico’s highest concentration of dolphinariums, faces additional scrutiny over the fate of workers in the industry. The state must now balance animal welfare with the socioeconomic impact of transitioning away from marine mammal entertainment.