Sea lions in aquariums and marine parks perform behaviors under reward. Welfare depends on social group management, pool size, and whether training is positive-reinforcement based.
Sea lion welfare in captivity is more tractable than cetacean welfare given their smaller size and greater adaptability to enclosed environments. However, social complexity, pool size, and training approach all significantly affect welfare outcomes. Positive reinforcement-based programs that provide behavioral enrichment alongside management utility represent best practice.