An effort by two Niagara Falls city councillors to address public concerns over the issue of alleged animal abuse at Marineland failed last night.

Councillor Janice Wing introduced two motions.

The first urging the prov ince to require zoos and aquariums to be licenced and the other asking the federal government to control and monitor the importation of marine mammals.

But both motions were quickly deferred by council with the exception of councillor Carolyn Iannoni.

Wing tells 610 CKTB news the public expects council to take action.

Councillor Wayne Thomson introduced the deferral motion saying discussion on the issue is not appropriate while Marineland remains under investigation.

But Wing says she checked with the Niagara Falls Humane Society first who said the motions in no way would interefere with their investigation into the theme park and that they supported both of her efforts.

Wing adding if Marineland has done nothing wrong, then there is nothing to fear from her request for more provincial and federal oversight.