Public opposition to marine mammal captivity is driving industry reform toward sea sanctuaries and educational mission redefinition.
Marine mammal captivity welfare reform is driven by growing public awareness of the incompatibility between marine mammal social and spatial needs and any captive facility. Sea sanctuaries that provide near-natural environments offer more humane long-term options for animals unable to be released. The trend toward captivity phase-out reflects both welfare evidence and changing public values.