With the accessibility of aquariums around the world, they create public awareness and emit effective conservation messages to people who would not normally be exposed to them. The debate of whether wild animals should be housed in aquariums, or if aquariums should exist at all is very prominent in today’s society. The conservation efforts being done around the world by these facilities and the millions of people being reached because of conservation messages greatly outweigh any possible negative effects this may have. Aquariums are powerful resources that create perspective in the public of the ocean, its diverse animals, and its issues, that would otherwise not be experienced on such a large scale. In turn, because these facilities exist, it impacts the animals in the ocean due to the extensive research, conservation efforts, and widespread education that aquariums promote. There are significant problems in the ocean that humans have caused for the environment and the animals that live there, and people have the opportunity to change this and impact the ocean positively. Aquariums’ conservation messages are very effective on the audience in conserving the ocean and protecting its species by raising awareness and educating the public on issues such as pollution and overfishing.

Why do aquariums need to raise awareness through conservation messages in the first place? Ever since populations of humans began to dramatically increase, there have been problems with pollution in the ocean. Sadly, many people are under the impression that littering does not have an immediate effect on animals living in the environment. Littering, even as minimal as one small piece of trash, can lead to physical disabilities of animals exposed to it. Laura Parker, with National Geographic, mentioned that the ocean has accumulated over “5.25 trillion pieces of plastic” (2015). Ocean gyres, large bodies of rotating water caused by currents and wind, create garbage patches in the ocean, or “trash islands,” that destroy entire habitats and disrupt animals living within them. Currently, there are five gyres in the world’s oceans that continually accrue all kinds of materials from water bottles to “plastic microfibers” (Parker, 2015). Marine animals living in their natural habitats are in danger of the plethora of litter accumulating in the ocean. Not only does the trash destroy habitats, but also gets stuck on marine animals, like sea turtles and dolphins, and causes physical disabilities that lead them to be rehabilitated in aquariums in the first place. According to Jenna Iacurci, “ingestion of trash has been documented in 56 percent of cetacean species, with rates of ingestion as high as 31 percent in some populations” (2015). Plastic can also prevent growth if it gets stuck around juvenile animals, often leading to fatalities. An oceanographer, Sylvia Earle said in a TED talk, “We are putting millions of tons of discarded fishing nets into the ocean, which continues to kill” (2009). The ocean occupies two thirds of the Earth, therefore it is vitally important to people, and human waste is slowly destroying the environment. Overall, littering effects the ocean in many ways, including destroying habitats, causing physical damage to marine animals vital to the food web, as well as raising awareness for the need to clean up the ocean.

Additionally, not only is pollution a problem in the ocean, but also, the depletion of the world’s fish through commercial fishing is affecting most species, including humans. According to a well-known scientist, Sylvia Earle, “We have eaten more than 905 of the big fish in the sea” (2009). This affects every part of the food chain because the larger animals like sharks and dolphins eat these fish. Just for human consumption, people are willing to deplete the fish in the ocean and they are not aware of the catastrophic consequences this can have. There are communities all over the world that depend on fish as their main food source, but if all of the fish are gone due to overfishing, then these communities will likely starve. Earle stated that “for every pound of fish that goes to market, more than 10 pounds, even 100 pounds, may be thrown away as bycatch,” and this provides more consequences to marine animals. A scientist with the Sea Turtle Conservancy said, “a recent study by Duke University found that 250,000 loggerhead and 60,000 leatherback turtles are estimated to be inadvertently snared each year by commercial longline fishing,” (“Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Commercial Fishing”). The health of the ocean is in question and therefore aquariums are important for raising awareness of issues like this that need to be addressed.  

Moreover, much of the public disapproves of accredited aquariums housing animals in enclosed exhibits due to thinking that this is inconveniencing or harming the organisms. In reality, the public is misinformed or uneducated about the reasons behind housing animals in accredited facilities. Unless one has a background in working with aquariums or some education in marine sciences, it may be more difficult to procure or fully understand the information on the process that aquariums go through with acquiring marine organisms. I have had the opportunity of volunteering in an aquarium, am a marine science major, and know some of the information on the process of obtaining marine life to live in the aquarium and the reasoning for it. Marine mammals are not simply taken out of the ocean and put into aquariums for no reason. Animals obtained are normally admitted to an aquarium in one of two scenarios: if they are rescued due to injury and have a very low chance of surviving in the ocean, or if they are in poor condition and will be returned to the ocean once they are nursed back to health. There are protocols in place for strandings in the ocean and if the animal is in poor enough condition, they are taken to facilities to be rehabilitated (Jauniaux, et al., 2002). Their status is evaluated constantly to make the best call on whether the animal would have a good chance of surviving if they were to be released to their natural habitat. Many times, the animals were too young at the time of stranding or they are in poor enough condition for an extended period of time, and they would not have a good chance of survival if released back into the ocean (Jauniaux, et al., 2002). These animals are the ones that are permanently on display in aquariums and this ultimately becomes their home.  Although “the captive experience for marine mammals is contrary to their natural experience,” very rarely do aquariums choose to house creatures in perfect condition from the ocean without the intent of releasing them back to the sea, so that they are not compromising the animal’s chance to live a natural life in the ocean (Rose, 2009). 

Many people think that the process of taking in marine life in aquariums negatively impacts the organisms but in actuality, it is more positive than it may seem to the public eye. Animals in aquariums acquire high quality training from expert trainers, excellent husbandry from certified veterinarians, and gourmet, nutritious seafood. This also helps to ensure the safety of many endangered species that would not have a high chance of survival in the ocean anyways. Much of the reason that these aquariums exist is to entertain and educate the public on issues such as pollution and overfishing by commercial fisheries. People do not always realize that their empathy for marine creatures living in aquariums may be misguided because they have not been educated on the reasons and benefits of these organisms being there. Housing marine animals for the benefit of millions of other animals in the ocean in order to raise awareness is worth it. Because marine animals are only admitted if they have a poor chance of survival in their natural habitat due to injury or disease, their captivation is justified so that they can live and contribute to public education and raise awareness on important issues.

In the past, aquariums were seen as mainly a source for entertainment, but increasingly, they incorporate conservation and education in their mission statements and this has become the focus of the aquarium-going experience (McCormickray, 1993). Even though everyone loves marine life, facilities have more of a focus on teaching about the marine life rather than just being there for an entertainment purpose. This means that aquariums become more of an outlet providing ways to protect biodiversity and initiate action. Approximately 700 million people attend aquariums and zoos every year across the globe to experience and learn about wildlife (Moss, 2015). By changing the overall focus of aquariums, "by 2020, at the latest, people will be aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably” (Moss, 2015). Aquariums have a huge opportunity to educate its visitors on whatever is going on in the world that is significant at the time. More people every year are entering aquariums with some level of knowledge about the ocean, and are coming out knowing more about major issues, and how to contribute to conservation on their own. 

There are many ways to protect and sustain the biodiversity of the ocean that aquariums educate its visitors on. Studies show that most visitors come in wanting to learn more about the animals and rate education as one of the most important reasons for visiting (Mann, 2014). Also, in a survey study, 76% of visitors said that it was very important for aquariums to include conservation and environmental issues information and encourage the guests to take action on the issues (Ballantyne and Packer, 2016). Initial awareness is what sparks interest, later promoting a yearning for involvement. This shows that aquariums have ample opportunity to make a difference for the ocean by inspiring and educating millions of people. Many people that go to aquariums are from rural or land-locked areas and would not otherwise get the opportunity to be educated on important issues and see and experience the marine animals in person (Miller, et al., 2004). If more people get involved in global issues like pollution and overfishing, then aquariums have done their job and the world is one step closer to being as healthy as possible.

Most aquariums and zoos offer formal educational opportunities like research, internships, and jobs like veterinary medicine, engineering, and guest relations. Just one visit to the aquarium can spark interest in people and ultimately give rise to future conservationists, veterinarians, and marine scientists. The informal education opportunities that take place every day in aquariums across the globe include tank displays, film projections, seminars/shows, and preserved biological material to relay specific messages (Karydis, 2011). They offer a variety in order to catch the attention of every possible type of person that comes through. Some of the messages include general concepts such as ocean acidification/ climate change, pollution, and threats to habitats, as well as more specific conservation efforts like recycling, cutting up plastic rings to prevent entanglement for marine animals, and eating only sustainable seafood. Aquariums use an emotional appeal, otherwise known as pathos, to make the visitors care about the wildlife, feel connected to it, and want to help. Messages like these reaching a multitude of people would undoubtedly contribute to conservation in the ocean. 

Moreover, not only do aquariums benefit the ocean by informing people about it, they also make incredible contributions to science through research, conservation efforts, and rescue and rehabilitation of animals. When there is a separate department for research within the aquarium, even more contributions can be made through opportunities outside their own institution because they have the necessary time and funding (Lawson, 2008). More aquariums are moving in this direction of operation. Karydis states that, “Aquaria are ideal places for research on husbandry, life cycles, reproduction, behavior, autoecology and fish pathology. Also, collaboration with universities and research centers increases the research potential in scientific disciplines such as ecology, genetics, physiology and biochemistry” (2011). This means that some research can be done more easily when the animals are accessible and observable, as they are in facilities. Because of this, aquariums are ideal places for research. Zoos and aquariums are “working on conservation projects in the countries where the animals hail from, protecting habitat and preserving remaining populations,” and that is one way they aid in conservation. (Warwick 10). More can be found out through research about the bodily processes and behavior of animals which is especially important for endangered species. Aquariums are often used for housing marine mammals and sea turtles for rehabilitation, and then they are released if they have a high chance of survival back in the ocean. 

Conversely, some people think that the conservation effectiveness of aquariums is very limited and may not have the outcome that is intended (Shumway, 2001). Shumway makes a point that, “The public possesses a minimal ecological understanding of aquatic biodiversity-of the variety of aquatic species and habitats and most importantly, the public lacks concern about the health of aquatic systems” (2001). It is evident that extensive information about marine life is not common knowledge amongst people in most places. However, this does not mean that the conservation effectiveness is limited by the capacity for knowledge about aquatic systems. It is more about the way facilities emit information to their guests that can put a limit on effectiveness for a widespread audience. It is the aquarium’s purpose to educate the guests about major issues like trash in the ocean and the depletion of fish species, and inspire them to want to make a difference. Going about this must be well thought out in order to simultaneously make it entertaining. 

Nonetheless, an example of a major aquarium’s success story is that of Monterey Bay’s Seafood Watch Program. Packard explains that, “Seafood Watch is an informational pocket guide to sustainable seafood choices and our sustainable seafood outreach program is now part of a global movement to change how fisheries operate” (2010). Over two million pocket guides at the aquarium and greater than twenty million guides through partnerships have been given out, not to mention that there is also a popular app that thousands of people use to advise them about sustainable seafood options in restaurants and supermarkets (Packard, 2010). This is just one example of the many ways that aquariums have an effect on important issues, like sustainability in seafood that we consume. Since so many fish species are now endangered due to overfishing, the accessibility to the information on what seafood is sustainable is necessary and helpful. If people are educated in a way that makes them interested, it will inspire them to make a difference, which will help aquatic systems in the long run, and, after all, that is aquariums’ overall purpose.

With the growth and additions of aquariums across the globe, there has been more controversy about marine mammals being housed, as in the popular movie, Blackfish, and about the overall effectiveness of the conservation messages being given (Cowperthwaite, 2013). People are often misguided in their disapproval for accredited aquariums housing animals in enclosures because they do not realize all of the positive impacts these facilities have on research, public education, and the marine organisms themselves. The necessity of these facilities has also been in question. Aquariums are vital to promote awareness amongst the public about important issues in the environment like the increase of pollution and the reduction of fish. Without this awareness, it would be impossible for people to have any desire to help with harsh realities like endangered species. If aquariums did not exist, much less of the public would understand their responsibilities to marine life and to the planet as a whole. Aquarium messages make people want to be proactive and reduce their individual pollution as well as consume only sustainable seafood. Also, aquariums contribute so much to research, conservation, and education and end up directly helping animals in the ocean. If aquariums keep moving in the positive direction that they have been, more and more people will know and care about the ocean, and this can have an astounding effect on the conservation of species that live there. 
