Flemish government decrees Bruges dolphinarium must close by 2037
The Flemish government has ruled that the dolphinarium at Boudewijn Seapark in Bruges must close by 2037. While the move is framed as a step toward improving animal welfare, the park’s management has vowed to challenge the decision, arguing it breaches prior agreements.
The dolphinarium is the last of its kind in Flanders, home to six dolphins living in captivity.
“We previously decided that no new dolphinariums were allowed, and Boudewijn Seapark imposed additional measures to improve animal welfare," said Flemish minister for Animal Welfare Ben Weyts. "For example, a breeding and import ban was imposed, and the operators must build an outdoor pool by 2027.”
Now, Weyts seeks to bring clarity to the future of the site. “The story of dolphins in captivity in Flanders will end for good by 2037 at the latest," he said. "That is the moment when the new outdoor pool will be completely written off. The operators will then have been able to recover their investment.”
"We will hold the Flemish government to this agreement, even if we have to enforce it legally"
However, Boudewijn Seapark’s director, Lars van den Ham, said the agreement was to create an outdoor pool by 2027 and that a new evaluation would take place in 2037. "We will hold the Flemish government to this agreement," he said, "even if we have to enforce it legally. Minister Weyts is ignoring the advice of his own services."
Animal welfare success
Animal rights organisation Gaia welcomed the decision, communicating the need for the dolphins to be relocated to a natural marine reserve rather than another dolphinarium. “We hope the animals will end up in a natural reserve in the sea, such as one planned in a bay in Greece,” a spokesperson said.
Gaia sees this as a landmark achievement, as it makes Belgium the seventh country in the world and the fourth in Europe to definitively ban dolphinariums. "This is a major victory for Gaia, which has been fighting for more than 30 years to put an end to the captivity of these sensitive and intelligent animals," the organisation said.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO ARTERRA
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