ATLANTA — The Georgia Aquarium has decided not to appeal a federal judge’s ruling that effectively prevents it from importing 18 beluga whales from Russia.
U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg ruled in September that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service properly applied the Marine Mammal Protection Act in denying the aquarium’s permit to import the belugas.
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The federal agency argued the aquarium’s application failed to meet some requirements of the 1972 law.
The aquarium argued the whales are needed to strengthen the gene pool of whales in captivity in the U.S. and for research and education.
A statement on the aquarium’s website Tuesday said it disagrees with the judge’s decision but that an extended appeal process wouldn’t be in the best interest of the whales.
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