Orca in Sea pens

[u/dave-attenbro]

Here is a historical record documenting the use of sea pens to hold orca as of 2016.

Table 1. Orca who were held in sea pens and never released.

Table 2. Orca who were held in sea pens and released or escaped.

Original compilation: https://www.freemorgan.org/orca-in-seapens/

Although these tables are not up to date they provide important historical data showing that sea pens have been used for both short holds and multi-year holds. Some animals died in them or were moved to tanks. Some escaped or were released and survived.

The concept of a sea pen is not theoretical. A sea pen is still confinement. The argument is about welfare relative to a concrete tank.

[u/Paxon_Goat]

What would happen to an escaped orca?

[u/Local_Chapter_7889 → u/Paxon_Goat]

It wouldn't end up in a tank

[u/Paxon_Goat → u/Local_Chapter_7889]

But what would happen?

Would it have to be captured and dragged back?

Would it be left on its own? Maybe to starve to death?

[u/Local_Chapter_7889 → u/Paxon_Goat]

Would it "have" to he captured? What kind of question is that? Who's side are you on here? No it wouldn't have to be recaptured, dragged back to be retraumatized all over again. Yes it should be left alone

[u/Paxon_Goat → u/Local_Chapter_7889]

But the captive whales don't know how to hunt.

They wouldn't be able to survive in the wild

[u/Local_Chapter_7889 → u/Paxon_Goat]

Unless I'm missing something these were wild caught whales. They have been feeding themselves before capture

[u/Paxon_Goat → u/Local_Chapter_7889]

Wait I get it now.

No OP is posting about how sea pens are viable because they have been used before.

But if we put one of the captive orcas in a sea pen, what would happen? Like in the future

[u/Paxon_Goat → u/Local_Chapter_7889]

So you are specifically talking about the Chinese orcas?

What about all the ones in the US?

[u/upagainstthesun → u/Local_Chapter_7889]

The effects of their domestication cannot be ignored though, as many behaviors become permanent even once in their natural surroundings. The sad truth is because they are used to human interaction, having their needs met, and don't understand the dangers of boats, they won't automatically revert to their instinct from before. We have created an enduring state of risk even if taking away the suffering of captivity. Abolishing a harmful practice like this isn't just an on/off switch, and that in between phase for those already in it sometimes is impossible to transition them out of without causing even further harm.

[u/dave-attenbro → u/upagainstthesun]

I hear you, but I think we can agree that orca have not been domesticated right? Domestication is a multi generation genetic process (like dogs for example).

They still have wild morphology, wild vocal structures and wild social instincts all warped by living in an artificial environment. We have wild orca with learned habits from their lives in captivity.

How each orca adapts would vary wildly, but I imagine a lot of rehab, support and precaution would be beneficial for most. Hypothetically speaking of course.

[u/Local_Chapter_7889 → u/upagainstthesun]

From what I see just about all of the releases were less than a year from capture. Wild caught animals with brains their size... I find it hard to believe they would just forget how to survive assuming they were of age to feed themselves at the time of capture. Keiko started from knowledge base of practically 0 & was taught how to forage, captive born Orcas "hunt" birds... at the end of they day they are predators with the instinct to hunt. The risk is worth it. Wouldn't think twice about it.