Canada's parliament on Monday approved a bill banning the capture and breeding of whales and dolphins in a move hailed by animal rights activists.

The measure is known as the 'Free Willy' bill after the 1993 movie, in which a young boy befriends and eventually frees a killer whale being held in an amusement park.   

It makes capturing marine mammals punishable by fines up to $150,000 USD, but will not apply retroactively, meaning those already in captivity can stay confined.