Information in this section was originally provided by Lifeforce Foundation of Vancouver.

The Vancouver Aquarium started the orca trade in 1964 when it hired an artist to kill an orca to use as a model for a sculpture. A Southern Community resident orca was harpooned at East Point on Saturna Island, BC but did not die. The aquarium's Murray Newman reported that the orca "became extremely distressed and uttered shrill whistles so intense that they could easily be heard above the surface of the water 100 metres away".

He was towed to Vancouver by the rope attached to the harpoon lodged in its body. It was a 16 hour ordeal through 40 miles of rough waters. He was named Moby Doll. When he survived for 86 days and attracted curious crowds the Vancouver Aquarium decided to capture orcas for public exhibition and profit. Other whale hunters and marine facilities also sought to cash in on this lucrative, brutal and inhumane business.