The welfare of cetaceans and other marine mammals in captivity is intensely debated; evidence increasingly supports that large whales and dolphins cannot thrive in confined spaces.
The captive display of large cetaceans — particularly orcas — represents one of the most contested welfare issues in contemporary animal ethics. The evidence that large, highly intelligent, socially complex whales cannot meet their behavioral needs in tank environments is now substantial and scientifically mainstream. The development of sea sanctuary alternatives — large protected ocean bays where captive whales can be transferred — represents the most welfare-positive path for existing captive populations. New captive breeding should be halted; sea sanctuary infrastructure should be developed as a transition mechanism for existing animals.