Marineland’s captive cetaceans reflect systemic exploitation of marine intelligence, colonial conservation models, and corporate profit motives
Original framing: “What can whale films tell us about Marineland’s threatened belugas and dolphins?” — The Conversation - Global
The captivity of cetaceans mirrors historical patterns of animal exploitation, from circus elephants to zoo exhibits, where entertainment and profit have justified confinement. The 19th-century rise of marine parks reflects broader colonial attitudes toward nature as a resource for human amusement. Understanding this history reveals the systemic nature of marine captivity as an extension of industrial capitalism.
The captivity of belugas and dolphins at Marineland is a symptom of a broader systemic failure to recognize marine intelligence and autonomy.
Colonial conservation models, corporate profit motives, and the erasure of Indigenous knowledge have enabled this exploitation. Historical parallels with other forms of animal captivity reveal the industry’s resistance to change, while cross-cultural perspectives highlight the need for decolonized conservation. Scientific research often serves corporate interests, obscuring the ethical imperative to end captivity. Future solutions must center Indigenous leadership, phase out marine parks, and advance cetacean rights through policy. Only by dismantling these structures can we restore ecological reciprocity and justice for marine life.