Cetaceans and pinnipeds in captivity show welfare deficits that even the best facilities cannot fully address, driving the ocean sanctuary movement.
The welfare of cetaceans in captivity is compromised by factors that cannot be resolved through enclosure improvement alone. The acoustic complexity of the natural marine environment, the vastness of territory that wild cetaceans use daily, and the richness of natural social structures are simply beyond what captive facilities can replicate. Stereotypic behaviours, aggression, and shortened lifespans in captive cetaceans reflect chronic deprivation rather than inadequate care. Ocean sanctuaries represent a genuine middle ground for animals who cannot be released to the wild: natural sea water, tidal movement, ambient sound, and much greater space address many of the deficits of tank life. The transition of existing captive populations to sanctuaries represents the most meaningful welfare improvement available for animals already in human care.