"No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal"

Jacques Yves Cousteau’s words remind us of the fundamental differences between captivity and the wild, especially concerning marine life such as dolphins. He asserts that no artificial environment, regardless of its size or amenities, can truly replicate the complexity and vastness of the ocean. The sea is an intricate, dynamic, and interconnected system, offering not just boundless space, but also a spectrum of physical, chemical, and biological conditions that tanks simply cannot match. Water temperature, salinity, the endless currents, the variety of life forms, hunting challenges, social interactions, and ever-changing landscapes are essential elements of an ocean habitat. Captive environments, by contrast, are static, limited, and controlled by humans.

Dolphins, highly intelligent and social creatures, evolved to navigate the open seas. Their natural behaviors depend on exploration, communication across miles, intricate social bonds, and the pursuit of live prey. When confined to tanks, even those that are large by human standards, their experiences are limited. The constant novelty, challenges, and stimulation of the sea are replaced by repetitive routines, environmental monotony, and the proximity to humans and other dolphins they might not choose as companions in the wild.

Cousteau challenges our assumptions about the well-being of marine animals in captivity. He insists that we cannot view dolphins living in artificial enclosures as "normal", for the very structure of their existence has been fundamentally altered. Their psychological states, physical health, and behaviors are affected in ways that cannot be fully understood or addressed through tank design or enrichment. In essence, no matter how advanced our aquariums become, the authentic experience of the sea is impossible to imitate, and the creatures inside remain apart from their true nature, their instincts constrained and their lives diminished. Cousteau’s words are a plea for us to respect the profound differences between confinement and freedom, and to reconsider the ethics of keeping wild animals outside their native environments.