Freedom for Animals is delighted to announce that, following the launch of the SEA LIES campaign, which calls upon the world’s largest aquarium brand, SEA LIFE, to end its circus-style whale shows in its Shanghai centre, the charity has joined forces with the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) to drive the campaign forward.

The WCA is comprised of over fifty partner organisations; all working with the shared aim of protecting cetaceans in their natural habitat and ending their use in captivity. Freedom for Animals Director, Liz Tyson, …

Two very important events over the weekend have helped to encourage a surge in support for Freedom for Animals’ ongoing SEA LIES campaign, which calls for an end to the cruel exploitation of whales in circus-style shows by UK company SEA LIFE aquariums, which is owned by Merlin Entertainments.

The first was the worldwide “Empty the Tanks” day of action for captive cetaceans; an initiative now in its second year which saw peaceful demonstrations against the use of whales in dolphins in captivity being carried out …

Since the 18th April this year, SEA LIFE aquariums, and their parent company, Merlin Entertainments, have come under fire for their secret use of whales in circus-style shows in their Shanghai centre. The company has refused to invest time in meeting with concerned parties to discuss their position and the ultimate fate of the whales – who continue to perform three times a day in the Shanghai SEA LIFE centre. Instead, said a Freedom for Animals spokesperson, SEA LIFE and Merlin have “spent time they …

This Easter weekend actions will be taking place around the world to speak out for whales kept captive by SEA LIFE. A number of animal advocates will be staging peaceful demonstrations at SEA LIFE centres around the UK in order to shine a spotlight on the company’s continued cruel use of beluga whales in circus-style shows in its Shanghai Centre. If you cannot make an event in person, you can still make a valuable contribution to the campaign.

All you need to do is print one …

In a move which has been branded “astoundingly cynical” by campaigners, Merlin Entertainments/ SEA LIFE appear to have taken action to quash criticism over its continued exploitation of Beluga whales in circus-style shows in its Shanghai centre… by rebranding the offending aquarium. Despite making repeated and highly-publicised claims that SEA LIFE is opposed to cetacean captivity, the company was exposed by Freedom for Animals in recent weeks for its active exploitation of Beluga whales in shows three times a day in its Shanghai Centre. That is, until Merlin …

In October 2012 SEA LIFE aquariums went up against a consortium of US aquariums including one of its largest competitors, SeaWorld, in a very public battle. The point of contention: the consortium’s proposed import of wild beluga whales from Russia for a life of exploitation by the businesses in question.

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Merlin/SEA LIFE was vocal in its opposition to the move, making a number of bold statements which endeared them to respected conservation organisations and animal welfare campaigners alike.

In a strongly-worded …