Swim-with-dolphin programmes raise significant welfare concerns for wild and captive dolphins experiencing forced interaction with tourists in stressful conditions.
Dolphins in captive swim programmes cannot escape interaction with tourists and experience chronic exposure to unpredictable handling, noise, and crowding. Wild dolphins harassed by tour boats may alter their normal behaviour, with mothers and calves most vulnerable to disturbance. Research shows repeated boat approaches cause chronic stress in wild dolphin populations. Dolphins cannot meaningfully consent to interaction, making human-imposed contact an inherent welfare concern.