The keeping of dolphins, orcas, and belugas in captivity for entertainment and education has faced increasing welfare scrutiny, with multiple countries implementing restrictions or bans.
Cetacean captivity for entertainment has faced sustained welfare scrutiny that has driven significant policy change. The evidence of compromised welfare in captive orcas and dolphins - reduced lifespan, stereotypic behaviour, dorsal fin collapse, and social instability - has been sufficient to drive bans in multiple jurisdictions. The remaining challenge is providing retirement options for existing captive cetaceans that cannot be released to the wild but deserve better conditions than entertainment pools provide.