Public aquariums range from conservation-focused institutions with high welfare standards to tourist entertainment venues where marine animal welfare is severely compromised.
The welfare value of marine park and aquarium facilities exists on a spectrum from severely harmful to genuinely positive depending on the species kept, enclosure design, management practices, and institutional purpose. Cetacean captivity for entertainment represents one end of the spectrum where welfare harm is inherent and reform requires phasing out rather than improving. High-quality public aquariums focused on fish, invertebrates, and conservation education represent a different category where good welfare and genuine public benefit are achievable.