AAA Arizona said it would discontinue the sale of SeaWorld tickets to its members later this fall, and PETA appears to be celebrating the news as a moral victory.
In a release, PETA said AAA Arizona's announcement comes after it posted a billboard in Phoenix urging the organization to end its relationship with the amusement park operator.
Tracy Reiman, PETA's executive vice president, said PETA was "so pleased" that AAA Arizona is going to stop selling SeaWorld tickets.
“Decent companies don’t want their names attached to an operation built on exploiting marine mammals," Reiman said in a release.
SeaWorld has faced declining attendance and finances since the release of the documentary "Blackfish" in 2013, USA Today reports.
The film sparked controversy around the company's treatment of orcas. The company and former CEO agreed to pay $5 million for failing to disclose the film's negative impact.
PETA said it has "long called on SeaWorld to develop seaside sanctuaries for the orcas."
AAA Arizona, however, did not mention PETA in an email statement or the controversy surrounding SeaWorld. Instead, the organization says its decision is a response to trends in member sales.
"These changes not only reflect Member interest and demand, but ensure consistency across the nearly 6 million AAA Members we serve across seven western states," AAA Arizona spokesperson Michelle Donati said.
Still, PETA is celebrating and apparently sending a box of vegan whale-shaped chocolates to AAA Arizona.
