Miami Seaquarium has been receiving backlash for a long time, with the mysterious deaths and sickness of beloved animals such as Lolita the Orca. The USDA came out with a report in July condemning the Seaquarium for inadequate animal care and staffing problems. With pollution entering the enclosures and animals getting really sick, local activists groups like PETA made a petition to shut the Seaquarium down with over 40,000 signatures. Now a few months later, Miami-Dade County wants to terminate its lease with the Miami Seaquarium, which would shut it down.
Miami Dade County has come to this decision after following along with the USDA’s reports. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava wrote a letter to the president of the dolphin company (who run Miami Seaquarium) on January 21. In her letter she says, “the County will take all possible measures in coordination with the USDA to ensure the welfare of the animals at the Seaquarium.” The USDA had issued a Notice of Intent to Confiscate four animals on January 19 to the Seaquarium following the alarming state the animals were in, which is what made the mayor come to the decision to look at the lease the Seaquarium has with the county with the intent to end the lease.
Miami Seaquarium has issued statements following the controversy. The Seaquarium claimed that the county misused the information they claimed to have been given by the USDA. Miami Seaquarium says that the mayor and her staff did not reach out to confirm the information before they publicized it. The Seaquarium also claims to work under the Federal Animal Welfare Act, which can be confirmed by the USDA. The Seaquarium never confirms or denies some of the allegations mentioned in the USDA’s report. Miami Seaquarium is still operating as normal despite the controversy.
Federal regulators said that Miami Seaquarium took the “necessary corrective action to come into compliance”. The animals that were previously stated in the Notice of Intent to Confiscate were not confiscated as the Seaquarium is now under compliance with federal regulations. Miami Seaquarium states that they will continue to provide care for the animals with passion and dedication.
Miami Seaquarium has been a controversial entity since they have been linked to the mysterious deaths of several animals. With major animal activist groups and the county both wanting Miami Seaquarium to shut down, time will tell if the formerly beloved Seaquarium will redeem itself or close its doors for the last time.
