SeaWorld fights to restore its image as shares sink in the wake of Blackfish

Documentary has made opposition to orca practices 'the mainstream view', says expert as company grapples with $10m blow to profits

Sina Schmocker asks for a minute to think before responding. "I have really enjoyed seeing the whales and the other animals," she said. "But I am really shocked by how little space they have.

"I knew it would be quite small, but I wasn't expecting it to be quite this small," Schmocker said of the 5.8m gallons (the equivalent of just under nine Olympic swimming pools) of tanks behind her that are home to the 11 orca whales of SeaWorld San Diego.