News Detail

Every day at Oceans of Fun we dedicate ourselves to the marine mammals in our family.  It is extremely important to us to provide the highest quality care, habitat, training, interactive programs, education and other factors vital to their welfare.  We follow strict guidelines set by the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the federal agency that licenses and inspects all marine mammal facilities in the United States as well as by our accrediting organization, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA).

APHIS recently conducted an extensive review of their regulations.  Although the agency proposes some updates, their review demonstrated in many ways that marine mammal parks and aquariums in this country do an exemplary job.  Unfortunately, extremists opposed to animals under human care are already suggesting changes with the sole intent of putting us out of business.  We, the Alliance-accredited facilities in this country, are the experts in the field of marine mammal care.  Any modifications or enhancements we suggest are aligned with the welfare of our animals.

The agency needs to hear from people like you who believe that Oceans of Fun and our colleagues take wonderful care of our animals.  We are asking you, our supporters, to please submit a personal comment to APHIS during the public comment period that is open from now until May 4, 2016.

Click here for more information about the proposed rules.  Click here to submit a public comment.

Points to Consider in Your Comment:

• Your connection/experience with Oceans of Fun and/or other marine mammal parks (i.e. frequent visitor, annual pass holder, veteran participating in a particular program, former/current student, member, one-time visitor, etc.)
• Thank APHIS for conducting the thorough review of existing regulations and for recognizing that marine mammal parks and facilities in the United States provide outstanding care and treatment of the animals in their families, including maintaining healthy habitats suitable to their needs.
• Draw from personal experience with the parks.  State your positive observations about the care and management of the animals. Share your positive interactive program experiences if you participated.  Tell how your experiences inspired your conservation actions. 
• Share what you noticed that was enriching to the animal during your visit. Explain why you feel their welfare was top priority.
• Share the educational value of your visit.  State the influence this had in your life.

Sample Comment:

Based on the reference points, a comment could read something like this:

I am a long time member and frequent visitor Oceans of Fun in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  During my visits, I have participated in a number of pinniped interactive programs and also spent time watching many of their educational shows over the years.   In every instance, I was impressed by the staff’s dedication to loving and caring for the animals and the clean environments in which the animals live.

It is clear to me that the seals and sea lions enjoy the sessions as much as the people.  They appear to choose to participate and are never forced.

As a long time visitor, I have learned so much about the animals, the environment, and the importance of conservation.  They have inspired me to improve my personal actions in my daily life and in my support of the environment around me.

I’d like to thank you for your diligent commitment to animal welfare.  I appreciate that you also recognize that U.S. marine mammal parks are dedicated to providing top quality care and public education and that you did not feel compelled to unnecessarily change regulations.  Thank you!

 My deepest thanks to you for your ongoing support of Oceans of Fun.  If you have any questions about this issue and our request for your help, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Shelley@oceansoffun.org

Warm regards,

Shelley Ballmann
President/ CEO
Oceans of Fun