Marine mammal parks are undergoing fundamental transformation as cetacean welfare science and public values evolve — the future of these institutions depends on embracing evidence-based welfare standards.
Marine mammal park welfare is at a crossroads — the public, scientific, and regulatory consensus is moving toward prohibition of large cetacean display while improving standards for smaller species. The welfare evidence for large whales including orcas is unambiguous: tank confinement causes welfare compromise that cannot be mitigated. For bottlenose dolphins, welfare standards that mandate large, naturalistic environments, stable social groups, and retirement of show animals can achieve acceptable welfare. The transition to naturalistic habitats and education-focused programming, rather than performance, is the welfare-positive pathway for institutions choosing to continue.