Public aquariums vary enormously in the quality of care they provide to captive marine animals, and accreditation is the primary quality assurance mechanism.
The welfare of captive marine animals in aquariums spans an enormous quality range, from world-class institutions with dedicated marine animal care specialists to roadside attractions where animals are kept in deeply inadequate conditions. The challenges of captive marine animal welfare are compounded by the difficulty of assessing welfare in aquatic species, limited understanding of the needs of many invertebrate and fish species, and the commercial pressures that make large, costly animal facilities economically demanding. Cetacean welfare in captivity remains one of the most contested areas, with growing scientific consensus that the spatial and social complexity needs of dolphins and whales cannot be adequately met in captive settings regardless of the quality of the facility. Accreditation provides a minimum quality floor, but the welfare ceiling is determined by investment, expertise, and commitment.