Why NO Aquarium In The World Has a Great White Shark!

Have you ever noticed that, no matter how impressive or high-tech an aquarium is, you’ll never see a great white shark swimming behind the glass? The ocean’s most iconic predator is always missing. Why? Here are the top 7 reasons why no aquarium anywhere in the world has ever successfully kept a great white shark.

7. They Need A Lot of Space

Every shark lover dreams of seeing a great white up close. But since 1955, aquariums have tried—and failed—to keep them in captivity. The main problem? Space.

Great whites are massive, often weighing over 1,000 kilograms and stretching 4–6 meters long. But size isn’t the only issue. Unlike orcas, which sadly are kept in small pools, great whites are true ocean wanderers. They’re built to roam, sometimes swimming hundreds of kilometers in just a few days. One tagged shark even traveled from Africa to Australia and back—a round trip of 20,000 kilometers in just nine months!

They must constantly swim forward to force water through their gills and breathe. Stopping means suffocating. They also need to regulate their body temperature by moving, and only change direction when they want to. Even the biggest whale tanks are way too small. In 2004, Monterey Bay Aquarium built a million-gallon tank for a small, 4-foot great white. It still wasn’t enough. If an aquarium ever had a great white, would you rush to see it? Let us know in the comments!

6. Captivity Causes Depression

Marine biologists believe that the artificial environments of aquariums make great whites miserable. They need the open ocean, the right balance of salt, constant movement, and endless space. When confined, they become lethargic, stop eating, and even become aggressive.

History is full of failed attempts. In 1981, SeaWorld San Diego tried to keep a 5-foot, 100-pound great white. It never ate, suffered convulsions, and died after 16 days. Monterey Bay Aquarium had a shark survive 198 days in 2004—the record—but it became aggressive, killed two tank mates, and was released. In Japan, an 11-foot adult great white died after just three days in captivity. The stress of confinement leads to starvation, injury, and ultimately death.

5. They Injure Themselves

Great whites in tanks tend to ram their heads into the walls. Scientists think this is because captivity messes with their sense of electroreception—the ability to detect electrical signals in the water. In the vast ocean, they never encounter barriers. In a glass tank, they get confused, stressed, and injured. Nearly every great white kept in captivity has shown this self-destructive behavior.

4. It’s Expensive

Capturing, transporting, and housing a great white is a logistical and financial nightmare. In 2004, Monterey Bay Aquarium spent a fortune building a custom mobile tank just to transport a 4-foot shark. During the nine-hour drive, the shark was essentially on life support.

Feeding is another huge challenge. Great whites are natural hunters—they don’t eat dead fish. They want live prey, which means aquariums would need to supply a steady stream of live animals (and that’s not great PR when visitors see a cute seal get eaten). The tanks would have to be gigantic—and astronomically expensive. All attempts so far have proven that no tank is big enough.

3. Not Good For Viewing

Imagine a tank big enough for a great white—so huge that visitors can barely see the shark. Even if you could, you’d likely witness a stressed, injured animal. Great whites often refuse to eat, swim into walls, and show obvious signs of distress. Instead of awe, visitors would feel pity or discomfort. If you really want to see a great white, cage diving in the wild might be a better (and more ethical) option!

2. They Do Not Survive in Captivity

The outcome is always the same: death or a short-lived release. The first attempt in 1955 lasted less than a day. SeaWorld’s 1981 record was 16 days. Monterey Bay Aquarium has tried five times; the longest was 198 days, but the shark had to be released after killing other sharks. Japan’s 2016 attempt lasted just three days.

Some scientists have even tried breeding a “tank-friendly” version of the great white. All attempts have failed. Great whites are simply not built to survive in captivity.

1. Public Perception Is Changing

Thanks to documentaries like Blackfish and The Cove, the public is more aware than ever of the cruelty of keeping marine animals in captivity. Organizations like PETA and The Humane Society have raised their voices against the practice. Even though people are fascinated by great whites, support for keeping them in aquariums is fading as we learn more about the suffering it causes.

Great whites don’t just “struggle” in captivity—they suffer. They display clear distress, refuse to eat, injure themselves, and die. As we become more educated, we want to see happy, healthy animals. If that means never seeing a great white in an aquarium, so be it.

Conclusion

No aquarium in the world has a great white shark—and now you know why. These majestic creatures are meant to roam the vast oceans, not swim in circles behind glass. If you want to see a great white, your best bet is to catch a glimpse in the wild, where they belong.