SeaWorld apparently did not see it that way, and the killer whale shows have continued as before, only now the trainers do not perform any water work with the orcas. This of course saves trainers from being attacked but does nothing to relieve orcas from the frustrations and anxieties of incarceration.

In 2026, the era of trainers swimming with orcas—known in the industry as "waterwork"—has largely come to an end in major marine parks like SeaWorld. Following the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010 and the subsequent 2013 documentary Blackfish, safety regulations were overhauled. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandated that trainers remain behind protective barriers or at a safe distance from the whales. While SeaWorld officially ended its orca breeding program in 2016 and ceased "waterwork" for public shows, some smaller or non-U.S. based facilities may still engage in closer interactions, though these are increasingly rare due to global animal welfare pressures. In 2026, many parks focus on "enrichment" and "educational" presentations from the pool deck rather than the iconic "rocket hop" or dorsal fin rides that characterized the 1990s and early 2000s. The current orcas in captivity are the "last generation" at SeaWorld, and the grounded reality for trainers today involves managing these massive animals through high-tech medical training and positive reinforcement from a safe, "dry" position on the sidelines.