Public debate over keeping cetaceans in captivity has driven significant welfare improvements. Understanding the evidence helps evaluate remaining challenges for marine mammals in human care.
The welfare of cetaceans in captivity — particularly large, wide-ranging species like orcas — represents a genuine ethical challenge that the zoo community has not fully resolved. Evidence of stereotypic behaviour, dental pathology from biting pool walls, and family unit disruption in captive orcas suggests that these animals cannot achieve good welfare in oceanarium conditions regardless of management improvements. Progress has been made: facilities have generally improved, breeding restrictions have been implemented, and a sea sanctuary model for retirement of existing animals is being explored. For smaller cetaceans and pinnipeds, captive welfare is more achievable. The trend toward eliminating wild capture and phasing out cetacean breeding represents important welfare progress, even as existing captive animals require ongoing care.