California regulators have recommended that a plan by SeaWorld San Diego to expand its orca tanks be approved ahead of a meeting next month to decide whether or not the theme park will be granted the permit to start its expansion project.

However, staff from the California Coastal Commission are giving their recommendation only if several conditions will be met by the Blue World Project, such as not increasing the population of killer whales currently in SeaWorld San Diego and that they will be protected from noise while construction is ongoing. The only time that the theme park may take in new killer whales is if there are rescues to be rehabilitated or have been deemed unfit to be released into the wild, as approved by the relevant government agencies.

Based on SeaWorld's plans, the Blue World Project will see the construction of two orca pools, one with a capacity for 450,000 gallons of water and another for 5.2 million gallons, which together will bring a water volume increase to the theme park of almost 3.8 million gallons.

The California Coastal Commission will meet on Oct. 8 to vote on the project. Given the amount of interest generated by the issue, the meeting will be held at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, allowing members of the public who wish to attend to be accommodated.

According to Noaki Schwartz, a spokesperson for the agency, thousands have written letters and emails to the commission, most of them opposing the Blue World Project. Aside from animal rights groups influencing the opposition, the release of a documentary in 2013 called Blackfish has tainted SeaWorld's reputation after it showed how orcas are treated in the theme park. Since then, stocks have dropped 50 percent for the company and attendance has declined, most especially for SeaWorld San Diego which is trailing behind all other SeaWorld theme parks.

If approved, the Blue World Project is scheduled to be finished by 2018, resulting in "more natural, dynamic and adaptable environments," according to the company. Aside from improving living conditions for its killer whales, SeaWorld has also pledged to provide additional funding for research programs that focus on protecting whales in the wild and overall ocean health.

Photo: Tammy Lo | Flickr