The captivity of marine mammals for entertainment has become increasingly controversial as evidence of welfare harm and public attitudes have shifted.
Marine mammal captivity welfare is a case study in how science and public opinion can drive industry change. The evidence against orca captivity in particular is compelling: reduced lifespans, physical abnormalities, psychological stress, and aggression that does not occur in wild pods. The entertainment model that requires wild-caught or captive-bred cetaceans to perform tricks cannot be reconciled with their welfare needs — these are wide-ranging, highly intelligent, socially complex animals whose lives in tanks are profoundly impoverished. The trend toward ending new cetacean captivity and developing sea pen sanctuaries for existing animals represents a genuine welfare improvement driven by evidence, activism, and changed consumer attitudes.