The captivity of marine mammals — especially cetaceans — has prompted significant ethical debate and policy reform worldwide.
Marine mammal captivity raises profound welfare questions. For highly intelligent, socially complex cetaceans with ranges spanning thousands of kilometers, even the largest tanks impose significant restrictions on natural behavior. Evidence of abnormal repetitive behaviors, higher mortality rates, and social dysfunction in some captive populations has driven legislative reform in multiple jurisdictions. Distinguishing between facilities that exploit animals for entertainment and those providing genuine rehabilitation and conservation value is essential for welfare-informed policy.