The very famous Marineland park in Antibes, established for more than 50 years on the Côte d'Azurshould close permanently its doors on January 5, 2025. A decision announced in a press release, relayed in particular by BFMTV, which highlights the economic and regulatory challenges facing the park.
From January 5, it may be impossible to go to Marineland. Wednesday December 4, in its press release relayed by BFMTV, the management of this famous water park located in Antibes, on the Côte d'Azur, mentions a “deep sadness” faced with this decision imposed by a difficult economic situation. Because the park plans to permanently close its doors from this date. Among the reasons given, the law of November 30, 2021, which prohibits cetacean shows in France from the 1st December 2026, plays a central role.
This legislation, included in the Environmental Code, aims to promote animal welfare by putting an end to the captivity of cetaceans for shows. The park emphasizes that 90% of its visitors come specifically to attend orca performances. and dolphins. With attendance increasing from 1.2 million to 425,000 visitors in a decade, this ban represents a fatal blow. “In ten years, attendance has fallen in a lasting and continuous manner“, confides management. Despite regular investments to maintain high standards of care for animals, Marineland claims to no longer be able to reconcile its commitments to animal welfare and its economic constraints.
Concerns for cetaceans and criticism of the speed of the decision
The announced closure raises questions among animal protection associations. Christine Grandjean, president of the “It’s enough!” association, is concerned about the speed of this decision. “We are very worried that it will happen so quickly. For the moment, we are awaiting the conclusions of One Voice's expertise.”she declared, cited by France 3, also highlighting the risk of a decision-making vacuum if the current political crisis were to paralyze the government.
The fate of the park's last two orcas, Moana and Inouk, is the subject of very particular attention. Marineland claims to be working with the competent authorities to identify structures offering equivalent conditions in terms of care and education, while recalling that animal welfare remains the priority. The Minister of Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, had recently expressed her opposition to their transfer to Japan due to this country's regulations on animal welfare. An ongoing controversy, reinforced by the complaint filed in October by It's enough!, which accuses the park of wanting to get rid of the orcas before the 2026 law comes into force.
