In a unanimous vote, the Vancouver, BC park board has banned the use of dolphins, beluga whales, and other cetaceans being held in captivity for entertainment or research purposes.

The board affirmed its historic, bipartisan support of ethical cetacean treatment after two days of public meetings. Over 50 presentations, for and against the ban, were heard–with divided support expressed in the viewing audience. But due to the recent deaths of two beluga whales at the aquarium in November, and lack of evidence showing that handlers could provide proper care for the sea mammals, the ban was passed .

The Vancouver park board is comprised of seven elected representatives — and all were pleasantly surprised by the unanimous vote.

"We have a group of commissioners here who are caring, compassionate, smart, and do their homework," said Green commissioner Stuart Mackinnon, according to the Vancourier. "We don't always agree […] so did it surprise me that it was unanimous? Absolutely."

You Should Dolphinately Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Steve Snodgrass, CC)