The welfare of cetaceans and pinnipeds in captive settings requires ongoing evaluation as understanding of their behavioral needs improves and alternatives to display develop.
Marine mammal captivity welfare has evolved significantly in public understanding and regulatory attention over the past decade. The cognitive complexity of cetaceans, their extensive home ranges, their complex social structures, and their dependence on acoustic communication create welfare requirements that cannot be met in standard aquarium facilities. Orcas in particular show welfare indicators consistent with chronic psychological distress in captive settings. The welfare trajectory for cetacean display is moving toward phaseout in many countries, with remaining facilities shifting toward rescue and rehabilitation of non-releasable animals rather than breeding programs. Pinnipeds represent a more complex welfare picture with species variation in adaptability to captive environments.