Efforts by aquaria in the United States to import beluga whales for display and research have catalyzed controversy. By Rob Hotakainen, E&E NewsOriginally published by E&E NewsThe U.S.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will decide soon on whether to approve a controversial plan to import five Canadian beluga whales for research at a Connecticut aquarium.Before the plan can be finalized under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA must first grant a permit to import the captive-born whales and send them to Mystic Aquarium.In a last-minute bid to block the plan, animal rights advocates have asked Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to recuse himself from the case.They alleged that Ross, who oversees NOAA, and other