Keeping orcas, dolphins, and other marine mammals in captivity raises profound welfare concerns given their complex needs.
Marine mammals, particularly cetaceans, have evolved for life in vast ocean environments with complex social structures and enormous cognitive capabilities. No captive facility can provide anything approximating an adequate environment for orcas. The welfare costs — collapsed dorsal fins, stereotypic behaviours, aggression between incompatible social groups, and significantly shortened lifespans — are well-documented. Public entertainment arguments for captivity are increasingly rejected by both science and public opinion.