The welfare of dolphins in captivity has been one of the most publicly contested animal welfare questions, with evidence of both welfare compromises in captive settings and conservation education benefits.
Dolphin captivity welfare exists on a spectrum from demonstrably harmful commercial facilities to research and rehabilitation programs that provide genuine welfare and conservation value. The evidence against keeping wild-caught dolphins in small performance tanks is compelling, while the case for sophisticated accredited facilities housing non-releasable animals is more defensible. Consumer choices about dolphin swim programs and show attendance directly fund the facilities at the lower end of this welfare spectrum.