Zoo Animals

Fish Welfare in Public Aquaria: Standards and Progress

Public aquaria have made significant welfare improvements in recent decades but face persistent challenges in meeting the needs of wide-ranging marine species.

Key Facts

BIAZA member aquaria require welfare impact assessments for all species kept
Shark welfare in large tanks includes monitoring behavioral indicators of stress and territory use
Tropical reef fish in public aquaria are now predominantly captive-bred in specialist facilities
Large rays and sharks require very large volumes that only the largest aquaria can provide

Welfare Considerations

Public aquaria that keep wide-ranging pelagic species face fundamental welfare challenges of space provision. The largest tanks cannot replicate open ocean ranging for species like oceanic whitetip sharks. Accreditation standards push welfare improvement but cannot fully overcome the biological incompatibility of some species with captivity.

What You Can Do

Visit only accredited aquaria that commit to species-appropriate welfare standards
Avoid aquaria with species incompatible with captive welfare including large pelagic sharks
Support aquaria that prioritize conservation programs alongside welfare-focused display
Advocate for phase-out of species whose welfare cannot be adequately met in captivity