Captive cetacean welfare has been a flagship animal welfare issue since the documentary Blackfish brought the suffering of captive orcas to global attention in 2013.
The needs of large, cognitively complex cetaceans are fundamentally incompatible with captivity. Orcas range up to 100 miles per day in the wild, live in complex multigenerational family units, and engage in sophisticated social learning. Captive facilities can provide none of this. The result is chronic stress, aggression between individuals, and dramatically shortened lifespans. Phasing out cetacean captivity in favor of accredited rescue rehabilitation programs is the only welfare-compatible path.