Sharks in public aquaria face specific welfare challenges related to space requirements, social dynamics, and the difficulty of meeting the behavioral needs of pelagic species.
Shark welfare in captivity illustrates the limits of what captive environments can provide for some species. Highly migratory pelagic sharks like white sharks cannot thrive in any tank size currently achievable, and continued attempts to display them cause suffering and mortality. For reef-associated species that can adapt to captive environments, welfare depends on appropriate spatial complexity, compatible social groupings, appropriate feeding, and management that prevents chronic stress. Welfare assessment frameworks for sharks are less developed than for mammals, but behavioral indicators including stereotypic circling, abnormal swimming patterns, and reduced feeding engagement indicate poor welfare. The best outcomes for aquarium sharks come from species-appropriate selection, large naturalistic systems, and skilled ongoing management.