Captive marine mammals including dolphins, orcas and seals face welfare challenges related to space, social structure and cognitive needs.
Marine mammal captivity raises fundamental welfare questions about whether the needs of highly intelligent, wide-ranging social species can be met in any captive setting. Space constraints prevent normal movement, exploration and complex social interactions. Acoustic environments in pools differ radically from the ocean. The scientific consensus is increasingly that cetacean captivity cannot meet these animals' welfare needs regardless of husbandry quality, leading to legislative restrictions in numerous jurisdictions.