SeaWorld plans renovations to orca tanks in wake of Blackfish criticism

After more than a year of public criticism of its treatment of killer whales, SeaWorld said it would build new, larger environments at its theme parks and would fund additional research on the animals along with programmes to protect ocean health and whales in the wild.

The company based at Orlando, in the US state of Florida, said the renovations had been in the works for some time and that they were not a response to the documentary Blackfish or the criticism of the company that followed the release of the film.

But it remains to be seen if the renovations will fully address concerns about keeping large marine mammals in captivity.

The 2013 documentary Blackfish suggested that captivity and SeaWorld's treatment of the whales provoked violent behaviour, which in turn had led to the death of trainers. Since the film's, a series of entertainers have pulled out of planned performances at SeaWorld parks.

SeaWorld Entertainment says it will build a tank with nearly 38 million litres of water at its San Diego park, almost twice the size of the current tank, with a depth of up to 15 metres.

The new environment will be called the Blue World Project, and SeaWorld said it would include features that were more stimulating for the whales. Those include a "fast water current" that will allow the whales to swim against moving water.