Seattle Marine Aquarium

Under founder Ted Griffin, the aquarium was home to many orca whales captured in the wild.^[4][5] The orcas who were captive there were: Namu,^[6] Shamu,^[6][7] Katy, Kandu, Walter (briefly),^[8] and three unnamed orcas for a total 8 orcas over the years. Griffin paid $8,000 for Namu, who was captured in 1965. At the time, Namu was the world's only captive killer whale on display.^[1] He was 22 feet in length and weighed about four tons. Namu performed demonstrations for aquarium attendees.^[1]

Following the death of Namu, thousands of local fans wanted Griffin to get another orca.^[9][10] Aquariums all over the world also wanted Griffin to capture an orca for them.^[11] Consequently, Griffin planned large-scale orca capture operations, the first of which was the Yukon Harbor operation in 1967. As a result of this operation, for a brief period, no less than five (small) orcas were swimming together in the one tank at the aquarium.^[12]

In 1964 the aquarium began to feature sixgill sharks. The sharks were taken from the Puget Sound at 500 feet deep, and were hooked with a long line. The line was tied to a buoy and dressed with ham, raw beef, and lingcod. After the sharks were captured, they lost their appetite and motivation. Griffin entered the tank in a wetsuit to force-feed the sharks mackerel and to push them around. The sharks did not last long, but the presence of the sharks significantly increased aquarium attendance.^[1]

Homer was the aquarium's 88 pound octopus. At the time it was a record for captured octopuses. The octopus was captured in the Puget Sound.^[1]

As people have protested against facilities like SeaWorld and the Miami Seaquarium, there were protests at the aquarium.^[1]

• Colby, Jason M. (2018). Orca: how we came to know and love the ocean's greatest predator. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190673116.