California will ban captive orca breeding and the use of the animals for entertainment in the state's parks.

Governor Jerry Brown signed the legislation, which imposes the ban from June next year, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Exceptions will be made for institutions conducting scientific research into killer whales.

Marine theme park Sea World announced earlier this year they would cease to breed the animals, and would no longer use them in entertainment shows for park guests.

The 2013 documentary Blackfish caused widespread backlash and boycotts of the park after it criticised the treatment of the animals in the park's care.

The film also revisited the circumstances around the deaths of three people, across 20 years, all caused by the killer whale Tilikum.