And I was objecting to your characterization of Vancouver aquarium as a place where animals are made to do tricks for our entertainment. It is a serious research institution which takes animal welfare very seriously. Keep in mind that, for the most part, these are animals that would not survive in the wild. Vancouver has banned wild caught whales and dolphins for decades.
Animals in captivity are always problematic, but there are sometimes good reasons for it both from an animal welfare point of view and from a human education point of view. In the meantime, great strides have been made in improving conditions for animals in captivity, and Vancouver has been a leader in this regard.
It's a "serious research institution" with only one peer reviewed publication based on data from captured belugas.
While individuals may take animal welfare very seriously, the Vancouver Aquarium has attempted to confuse their marine mammal rescue with the captivity of cetaceans. 99% of the marine mammals they rescue are baby seals that humans have interfered with while their mother was out feeding.
While I will agree that the Vancouver Aquarium can be considered to "take animal welfare seriously" I also feel that their president and website disingenuously conflate mammal with cetacean, hide the sources of "wild cetacean injuries" (eg, Japanese sourced dolphins), and vastly under spend when it comes to care of their cetaceans.
I get the research argument and would agree with it. But the habitat size is specifically designed for better viewing by the public during shows. I don't know the backstory behind this photo (I came across it during a google search), but you can see that "sea pens" offer a much larger area for the dolphins to live. As well it is in natural habitat rather than a tank with filtered water.
I'm no expert, but I imagine research could take place in a sea pen like this and Vancouver has no shortage of coastline.
Animals in captivity are always problematic, but there are sometimes good reasons for it both from an animal welfare point of view and from a human education point of view. In the meantime, great strides have been made in improving conditions for animals in captivity, and Vancouver has been a leader in this regard.