--- description: The Coastal Commission approves the expansion of tanks, with conditions title: California Bans Captive Breeding of Killer Whales at SeaWorld image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt49127602e6bc0211/69886794ab6d77cc586a697d/orca.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # California Bans Captive Breeding of Killer Whales at SeaWorld by [Tara John](/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 9, 2015 12:03 PM CUT  SEA WORLD, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - 2005/01/01: USA, California, San Diego, Sea World, Killer Whale (orca) Underwater, Girl, 2006\. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) SEA WORLD, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - 2005/01/01: USA, California, San Diego, Sea World, Killer Whale (orca) Underwater, Girl, 2006\. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)Wolfgang Kaehler—LightRocket/Getty Images by [Tara John](/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 9, 2015 12:03 PM CUT The California Coastal Commission has banned the breeding of orcas in SeaWorld, as a condition on the approval of a $100 million expansion of the tanks to house the marine mammals in SeaWorld’s San Diego facility. The breeding ban—a last-minute amendment that followed a day-long hearing on Thursday—would only affect the captive orcas at the California park, not SeaWorld facilities in other states, [reports _The Guardian_](http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/oct/09/california-bans-captive-breeding-of-seaworld-killer-whales "undefined"). The amendment also prohibits the sale, trade or transfer of captive orcas. “The commission’s action today ensures that no more orcas will be condemned to a nonlife of loneliness, deprivation, and misery,” [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said in a statement](http://www.peta.org/blog/no-breeding-allowed/ "undefined"). The commission attached several other conditions to the approval SeaWorld’s Blue World expansion in San Diego, including one that no new whales from the wild will be kept there. SeaWorld said in a statement that the company was disappointed with the conditions attached to the approved expansion, which would see its killer whale enclosures triple in size. “Breeding is a natural, fundamental and important part of an animal’s life and depriving a social animal of the right to reproduce is inhumane,” says the park. SeaWorld San Diego is currently home to 11 orcas, the star attractions of the facility. ### 26 of LIFE’s Best Animal Covers  February 8, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Charles J. Belden). LIFE Magazine  March 1, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Henry M. Lester). LIFE Magazine  April 26, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Torkel Korling). LIFE Magazine  July 26, 1937 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt). LIFE Magazine  January 10, 1938 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Lane Flinders). LIFE Magazine  December 12, 1938 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by George Karger). LIFE Magazine  April 3, 1944 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Nina Leen). LIFE Magazine  September 9, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Martha Holmes). LIFE Magazine  September 23, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Frank Scherschel). LIFE Magazine  November 4, 1946 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by David Douglas Duncan). LIFE Magazine  August 23, 1948 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by Jon Brenneis). 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LIFE Magazine  December 5, 1969 LIFE Magazine cover (photo by John Dominis). LIFE Magazine  LIFE magazine cover of 01-30-1970 w. pic of snow monkey of Japan in water, by Co Rentmeester. 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