Addressing the unique challenges of community-based capture–hold–release aquariums through a facility health program.

Community-based capture–hold–release (CHR) aquariums were developed to (i) increase community connection to local marine environments by displaying local animals, (ii) avoid negative perceptions about holding animals by minimizing the time any individual is held captive, and (iii) operate with a low ecological footprint. CHR aquariums in British Columbia, Canada, require government-issued licences and permits to capture, hold, and release animals, a condition of which is that neither capture nor release can result in negative ecological, genetic, or disease impacts on wild populations in the collecting or receiving waters. Growth in the popularity of CHR aquariums is placing them under greater scrutiny from permitting agencies. Because of variability between facilities and a lack of performance standards, CHR aquariums cannot be assured of a consistent assessment. This paper proposes a CHR Aquarium Health Program that transparently and consistently provides assurances that they are socially and ecologically safe and recognizes the unique challenges of small-scaled, often rural aquariums. The value of this approach is discussed with respect to 10 years of implementation at the Ucluelet Aquarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]