The term “blackfish” is confusing because it refers to two vastly different categories of marine life: actual bony fish and a highly intelligent marine mammal. This ambiguity stems from assigning names based on appearance or local tradition, rather than strict biological classification. For many years, the term described dark-colored fish species found worldwide. Today, the public’s understanding of “blackfish” is largely shaped by a cultural phenomenon involving one specific ocean predator.
Regional Names for True Black Fish Species
In various coastal regions, the name “blackfish” accurately describes several species belonging to the class Osteichthyes, or bony fish. One prominent example is the tautog (Tautoga onitis), a species of wrasse commonly called blackfish in the Northeast United States, from Nova Scotia down to South Carolina. This bottom-dwelling organism inhabits hard substrate environments such as rocky reefs, wrecks, and bridge pilings at depths up to 75 meters.
The tautog possesses thick lips and powerful jaws containing molar-like teeth, adapted for crushing the shells of prey like mussels, crabs, and clams. While adults are typically dark olive and brown, their overall dark coloring earned them the regional nickname. Another true fish species often referred to as blackfish is the black sea bass (Centropristis striata), which shares a similar dark coloration and habitat along the Atlantic coast.
The Film Blackfish and the Focus on Orcas
The modern cultural understanding of “blackfish” was solidified by the 2013 documentary film of the same name. This film brought the issue of marine mammal captivity to an international audience, shifting the primary association of the term from fish to the orca (Orcinus orca), the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. The documentary centered on Tilikum, a male orca involved in the deaths of three people during his decades in captivity. The film focused on Tilikum’s capture in 1983 and the extreme stress he endured from confinement and social aggression. The title draws from “blackfish” being a traditional name used for orcas by some Indigenous populations in western Canada. The documentary sparked a public outcry and significantly impacted the perception of marine parks by positioning the orca’s aggression as a symptom of psychological damage induced by captivity.
Orca Biology and Behavioral Impact of Captivity
Orcas are technically toothed whales, classified within the Delphinidae family, making them dolphins, not fish, despite their common name of “killer whale.” They are apex predators found in every ocean worldwide, making them one of the most widely distributed mammals after humans. Adult male orcas are physically imposing, reaching lengths of up to 10 meters and weighing as much as 6,000 kilograms. Their distinctive black-and-white coloring and streamlined bodies make them easily recognizable.
The intelligence and social structure of orcas are highly sophisticated, rivaling those of primates. They live in complex, multi-generational family units called pods, often led by the oldest female, establishing a matrilineal hierarchy. Communication utilizes an elaborate system of clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls that form a distinct dialect unique to each pod. In the wild, orcas exhibit vast natural ranges, with some populations documented to swim up to 160 kilometers in a single day, often using coordinated group tactics to hunt varied prey.
The transition from this complex, wide-ranging existence to a confined tank environment results in documented behavioral and physical impacts. One of the most visible signs of stress in captive adult male orcas is dorsal fin collapse, where the tall, fibrous connective tissue of the fin folds over. This condition is virtually non-existent in the wild, but it occurs in 100 percent of adult males in captivity. The lack of deep, fast swimming in the shallow, restricted tanks removes the hydrostatic pressure necessary to keep the fin tissue rigid and upright.
Captivity also leads to significant damage to the orca’s forty-eight teeth, which are naturally used for grasping prey. Studies have shown that every captive orca examined had some form of dental damage, with over 65 percent suffering moderate to extreme tooth wear in their lower jaws. This wear is primarily caused by the orcas biting and grinding their teeth on the concrete and steel surfaces of their enclosures, a stereotypic behavior resulting from pent-up aggression and frustration.
When the wear exposes the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth, it creates a channel for infection. This requires painful procedures where veterinarians drill the teeth to extract the pulp. The resulting hole is not filled, but instead left open for the rest of the animal’s life, necessitating daily flushing with chemicals to manage infection.