Marine mammal facilities housing dolphins, belugas, and sea lions have faced sustained welfare scrutiny, prompting significant changes in practices and public expectations.
Marine mammal captivity welfare is not a single issue but a spectrum. Facilities range from accredited institutions with genuine research and rescue missions to entertainment venues where animal welfare is clearly secondary to spectacle. For highly social, wide-ranging, acoustically sensitive species like dolphins and belugas, the fundamental limits of tank environments create welfare constraints that cannot be fully overcome through enrichment or training. The behavioral flexibility of these animals means they can learn performance behaviors and appear healthy, while still experiencing chronic environmental mismatch. Sanctuary models in natural seawater enclosures represent a more welfare-positive future for non-releasable cetaceans. Supporting facilities that prioritize welfare, rescue, and conservation over entertainment drives better standards across the sector.