Bruges aquarium must close following government ban on dolphins in captivity

The last remaining Flemish aquarium with dolphins in captivity must close its doors by 2037 following a government decision.

The Bruges aquarium Boudewijn Seapark currently has six dolphins in captivity and while they have until 2037 to shutter, a breeding and import ban has been introduced in the meantime and the operators must build an outdoor pond by 2027.

“We have already decided in the past that there will be no new dolphinarium, and additional measures have been taken for Boudewijn Seapark to improve the welfare of the animals,” said Ben Weyts (N-VA), the Flemish minister for animal welfare.

“In the end, Flanders will ban the captivity of dolphins once and for all in 2037. That's when the new outdoor pool will have paid for itself. The operators will then have been able to recoup their investment.”

But Boudewijn Seapark’s director Lars van den Ham disputes those details: “The agreement was that an outdoor pool would be built by 2027 and that a new assessment would be carried out in 2037.”

Van den Ham said he would pursue legal recourse if the Flemish government does not stick to this agreement, adding that “Minister Weyts is ignoring the advice of his own departments”.

Belgian animal welfare organisation Gaia said it was satisfied with the plan but hopes the dolphins will be released to a nature reserve when the time comes and not in another aquarium.