Mexico is on the brink of a historic shift in the protection of marine animals’ rights, thanks to the approval of the Ley Mincho, an initiative promoted by the NGO Animal Heroes and unanimously passed by the Senate. The law aims to strictly regulate the use of dolphins and whales in captivity, with the goal of gradually phasing out dolphinariums and safeguarding the health of the animals involved.
Currently, over 350 dolphins live in captivity in Mexico, often in unsuitable conditions: confined in chlorinated water tanks, subjected to daily acrobatic shows, and constant interactions with tourists. A situation that seriously jeopardizes their physical and psychological well-being.
The Ley Mincho introduces several key bans, including:
A ban on breeding in captivity, except for conservation purposes, with animals to be moved to sea enclosures rather than artificial tanks.
A ban on acquiring new specimens by dolphinariums.
A total ban on using dolphins, whales, and other marine mammals for public or private shows (whether in permanent facilities like dolphinariums or traveling shows) throughout the country.
A ban on the use of concrete tanks, in favor of more natural habitats.
The main goal is clear: to gradually eliminate the marine mammal entertainment industry, promoting the creation of sanctuaries where these animals can live in more suitable conditions. The law will also establish a system to identify individual animals, aimed at preventing illegal replacements in cases of death or mistreatment—a sadly common practice.
It also foresees heavy fines—up to 8.4 million pesos—for anyone violating the ban, and an 18-month transition period to allow facilities to adapt, protecting both the animals and the workers involved.
Although the Senate has already approved it, the Ley Mincho now awaits ratification by the Chamber of Deputies to come into full effect. In the meantime, Animal Heroes has launched a social media campaign urging citizens to pressure lawmakers—especially those from Quintana Roo, home to most of the country’s dolphinariums.
If passed, the Ley Mincho will set an important precedent for the protection of marine animals, marking the end of practices that are now widely considered unacceptable. Mexico thus joins a growing number of countries rejecting animal suffering as entertainment and promoting a future built on respect and protection for all living beings.
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