Public aquariums have been a popular attraction across the globe since the first one was created by the London Zoo in 1853. Aquariums provide an entertaining and educational opportunity for families to learn more about the planet’s marine life and local ecosystems. According to the World Animal Foundation, as of 2025, 73% of adults support the existence of aquariums; however, aquariums are not always just educating people. Many existing aquariums abuse, starve and mistreat the animals they display to the public. Less than 10% of facilities that are licensed to display animals are actually Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited.
“You should always house an animal in a consistent housing with their natural environment. As long as you match the environment to the organism’s natural habitat it should be fine,” Walpole High School marine biology teacher Eric O’Connor said. “It’s more nuanced than that. There are fish that should not be taken out of their natural environment. There’s a lot of tropical fish that are illegally fished up and people put them in fish tanks.”
Most animals in aquariums face early and unnatural deaths due to the stressful conditions of the facilities they are being held in. In a considerable amount of aquariums, physical needs for marine life are usually met; however, the physiological needs are often ignored as long as the animal is still healthy and operating. Forced Interactions with humans and being held in constant, uncomfortable confinement leads to permanent stress. Excessive exposure of stress like this often results in symptoms such as weight loss and weakened immune systems; such effects can be long term and permanent. Living naturally in their ecosystems, the average orca lives for 50-90 years, an arguably long lifespan. Still, captivity sends animals an early death. When the factors of stress, abuse and environment come into play, the average orca living in captivity lives for only 20-30 years.
There has also been a noticeable trend of animal abuse in aquariums across the world. Marine life in small and crammed enclosures are denied the ability to be able to perform their natural behaviors; which in itself is a form of cruelty that many refuse to acknowledge. Many mammals in aquariums, particularly dolphins and whales, are drugged to manage their aggressive behavior and prevent them from violent behavior towards their “carers.” A People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) study showed that more than 40 orcas at Seaworld have died due to fractured skulls and bacterial infections. Another form of abuse in aquariums is the interactive activities that aquariums give guests opportunities to try. Many guests have the opportunities to swim, pet and ride the animals in the aquarium. The programs are extremely dangerous for both the animal and the human involved and most aquariums punish their animals for being aggressive towards humans.
Though many argue that aquariums serve as a fun learning opportunity, most are uninformed about the horrors that take place in many big-name aquariums. The mixture of mistreatment, physiological abuse and punishment alone should be enough to shut down many aquariums across the country. However, many will continue to ignore the terrible conditions these animals live in and profit off of their abuse. However, many organizations today such as PETA and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) have been reaching out to their communities to bring awareness to this unseen problem. One can support these groups and causes through financial donations, boycotting local aquariums, organizing protests and speaking with local officials to advocate for mistreated animals.
