Educational Value?

Captivity does not educate visitors about the true nature of marine mammals - it only teaches human beings that the suffering of captive marine mammals can be justified by our need to be entertained.

In U.S. waters, the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (in collaboration with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in some cases) establishes a moratorium on the “taking” of marine mammals. “Take” is defined as “to hunt harass, capture, or kill” any marine mammal or attempt to do so.

However, despite the protection the MMPA affords, the cruel confinement of marine mammals is legitimate at facilities through permitting procedures. When the MMPA was drafted in the early 1970s, it was assumed that marine mammal displays were important for conservation and education. However, similar to facilities all around the world, whales and dolphins in the U.S. are displayed for human entertainment, not educational purposes. What little information is conveyed to the visiting public is largely inaccurate because the animals’ ecology, natural behaviors, life spans, and social structures are misrepresented. There is very little if any educational value in viewing captive marine mammals.