Dolphins, orcas, and other marine mammals in captivity face complex welfare challenges that have led many countries and organizations to restrict or phase out their keeping.
Marine mammal captivity welfare is fundamentally challenged by the mismatch between the spatial and social complexity of wild cetacean life and the conditions any human facility can provide. Orcas that swim hundreds of kilometers daily in complex family groups cannot have their needs met in even the largest tank. The evidence from dorsal fin collapse, stereotypic behavior, and shortened lifespans in captive populations documents the welfare cost of this mismatch. Phasing out breeding programs while developing sea sanctuary alternatives represents the most welfare-positive trajectory.