Marine Animals

Marine Mammal Captivity Reform

The keeping of marine mammals including dolphins, orcas, and beluga whales in captivity is subject to growing welfare and ethical debate.

Key Facts

Captive orca lifespans are significantly shorter than those of wild orcas
Stereotypies including repetitive swimming and jaw popping indicate chronic stress
San Diego Sea World announced the end of orca breeding in 2016 following welfare campaigns
Several countries including France have banned cetacean captivity
Seaside sanctuaries offer a potential middle ground between captivity and open ocean release

Welfare Considerations

Large, cognitively complex marine mammals suffer profoundly in captive environments. Moving the industry toward sanctuaries and phasing out captive breeding represents the most welfare-positive direction of travel.

What You Can Do

Do not attend shows featuring performing cetaceans
Support campaigns for cetacean captivity bans in your country
Advocate for seaside sanctuary development as an alternative to current facilities
Educate others about the welfare costs of marine mammal entertainment
Support organisations working to retire captive cetaceans to sanctuary environments