Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill Tuesday that bans the breeding and captivity of killer whales.
The law will take effect in 2017 and killer whales or orcas that are already in captivity will be allowed to stay that way for educational presentations starting in June 2017.
The bill comes just months after SeaWorld announced an end to their killer whale breeding program and the end of theatrical shows featuring the whales in March.
The law, authored by Richard Bloom, states killer whales can be rescued for rehabilitation or research purposes, but not for breeding or entertainment purposes.
