Blistering heat, roaring crowds, deafening music and tiny tanks: these are not conditions most would consider ideal for whales or any sea creature. In fact, they are conditions that threaten the health and safety of maritime animals. Hundreds of whales and dolphins have suffered this captive fate at the establishment infamous for the maltreatment of sea mammals: SeaWorld. It is imperative that SeaWorld makes a change in how they treat these invaluable animals.

The abuse of sea creatures by SeaWorld is not unheard of. Incidents involving orca whales, SeaWorld’s biggest tourist attraction, have been reported since the 1970s. While orcas have no known history of violence in their natural and free habitat, captivity has bred them to be “killer whales.” The park’s records indicate 600 pages full of incidents, including attacks resulting in the deaths of many humans. These animals did not just become violent out of nowhere. According to SeaWorld of Hurt, a campaign run by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), when Tilikum, an infamous orca whale, did not perform a trick correctly, both him and his tank mates were refused food, which undeniably caused build up of tension. This tension is what inevitably leads to the violence that the whales are becoming known for in captivity. The controversial documentary Blackfish showed the effects of captivity on Tilikum, who notoriously killed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, in a vicious moment of anger.

SeaWorld’s deepest tank is a meager 40 feet deep, which causes a multitude of problems for the creatures. These tanks are nowhere near deep enough to be shielded from the harsh reality of the sun’s rays. As a result of this, the whales have constant sunburns, which SeaWorld hides by using a black tinted zinc oxide, according to SeaWorld of Hurt. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer posted a graphic that revealed that Tilikum’s deepest dive was 35 feet, while the deepest dive of a tagged, free ranging orca was 525 feet. Whales and dolphins typically travel 100 miles a day, but confined in SeaWorld’s tanks, these animals are extremely restricted in their ability to move freely.

According to National Public Radio (NPR), SeaWorld’s curator of zoological operations, Chuck Tompkins, has said that they do not put animals in any stressful situations. However, this is proved not to be the case. John Hargrove, an ex-SeaWorld-trainer, has actively spoken out against SeaWorld, claiming that they are bullies who for decades have silenced trainers who threatened to speak out. Hargrove personally attested to the maltreatment of the animals through years of experience as a trainer, claiming that he has seen the psychological and physical trauma that results from captivity firsthand. According to the Huffington Post, in the last 24 years alone, 20 orcas and 133 dolphins have died at SeaWorld.

This is a problem that transcends any small fix SeaWorld can propose. Although they have taken admiral strides by putting an end to their breeding program in March of 2016, there are still existing problems, including the hidden fact that dolphins are excluded from the ban. In addition, there is no current plan for where the whales will go once they are retired. Many of them have been inbred and these hybrids cannot exist outside of captivity.

Even though captivity has prevented these animals from ever living in the open ocean, there is still a better alternative than retirement tanks. Sea pens are the most ethical solution: enclosed areas around tiny islands that allot significantly more area than any tank SeaWorld has to offer. The released whales will be monitored as they learn to hunt for their own food. This has been successful in the past, most notably with the famed whale Keiko. Though SeaWorld may claim this is too expensive of a solution, investigative journalist David Kirby argues that the expenses can be offset by converting the island into an educational facility, rather than strictly an entertainment program, run by a nonprofit organization. This change could be revolutionary in the effort for the rights of not only whales, but all captive sea animals.

It is crucial that SeaWorld considers a better treatment for their animals further than just ending their breeding program. While they are at fault for many deaths and injuries involving both humans and animals, it is still possible, and quite essential, that they adjust and move forward.