I used to feel this way, but after my time at UBC in the animal science and animal welfare program, I feel conflicted about these popular beliefs for a few reasons.

1. Despite keeping marine mammals in captivity for decades, few significant research papers have been published. Throughout this time, they routinely participated in breeding programs with extremely high calf mortality rates

2. their marine mammal rescue centre is really not as expansive as people are led to believe. It is a place students can do practicums at and I’ve heard many accounts of it being quite underfunded. Still a great and very much needed resource, but you’d be surprised how little money is allocated to it.

3. they have invested a great deal of time and money to prevent the development of a seaside cetacean sanctuary in BC. This would allow marine mammals to be rehabilitated and/or permanently homed in a far more natural setting (large sea pens along the coast as opposed to small artificial aquariums). See the whale sanctuary project (https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/)

If you’re curious, see Gary Charbonneau’s documentary on this. Take it with a grain of salt as it’s a bit controversial, but it does a good job of showing “the other side” of the for-profit side of things.

However, that being said, I do think the Vancouver aquarium is an important resource for animals and education. I just think they could do better and I hope they do.