Marine Animals

Marine Mammal Welfare: From Strandings to Captivity

Marine mammals face welfare challenges from entanglement, pollution, strandings, and captivity; each requires different welfare interventions.

Key Facts

Over 2,000 cetaceans strand annually in UK waters
Entanglement in fishing gear is a leading cause of dolphin and whale mortality
Belugas and bottlenose dolphins in marine parks show welfare indicators of chronic stress
Marine pollution including noise, plastics, and chemical contamination affects marine mammal health

Welfare Considerations

Marine mammals face an array of welfare challenges in both wild and captive contexts. Wild animals face entanglement, noise pollution, chemical contamination, and climate-driven prey shifts. Stranded animals require expert rescue and rehabilitation. Captive marine mammals face welfare challenges from confinement, sound environments, social disruption, and performance demands. Welfare approaches must address each context differently.

What You Can Do

Support marine mammal stranding rescue networks with donations
Reduce plastic use to decrease marine pollution affecting marine mammals
Never attend entertainment facilities using captive cetaceans for shows
Advocate for fishing gear modifications reducing cetacean entanglement