After two days of maintaining radio silence, Miami Seaquarium officials have fired back against Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's intentions to possibly axe the marine park's lease. The park has been taking hits over allegations including animal health issues and safety concerns. Levine Cava's letter, which surfaced on Monday, cited "multiple and repeated instances of animal welfare violations," with a disturbing nod to the death of dolphin Sundance late December.
In a statement released today, Seaquarium leaders defended themselves, as they claimed to have been working to remedy "some concerns about the care of four complex animal cases." They expressed their disapproval over the mayor's move, stating, "We reiterate our disappointment with how Miami(-)Dade County has misused the information they claimed they had received from the USDA regarding animal health issues at MSQ," as relayed by Local 10 News.
Defying concerns, the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed Tuesday that the Seaquarium was now "in compliance" after addressing issues that could have led to enforcement action. The satisfaction came after the Seaquarium "took necessary corrective action to come into compliance with the AWA," clarifying that no animals were confiscated, as per a spokesperson's statement obtained by CBS News Miami.
Despite the USDA's latest stamp of approval, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado maintained, "We're giving them the opportunity to cure. But we also have to be respectful of our obligation to maintain the health and safety of those animals." highlighting an unsatisfied stance as numerous promises from the park’s operators had allegedly fallen flat. She hinted at a troubling pattern saying, "It's starting to look like a pattern, right? We keep running up against the same things," in an interview with CBS News Miami's Joe Gorchow.
Previously, Mayor Levine Cava had initiated a review of the Seaquarium's lease in light of the Notice of Intent to Confiscate from the USDA, stressing the gravity of such a measure which hadn't been taken in almost three decades. Amidst the backdrop of historical complaints and the recent passing of the widely treasured whale Lolita, animal rights organization PETA has voiced its support of a shutdown. "The county has finally announced that it is moving to revoke the Miami Seaquarium's lease, marking the beginning of the end for this animal prison," said PETA Executive Vice Present Tracy Reiman in a statement relayed by CBS News Miami.
The Miami Seaquarium has declared it remains open and operational and extended an invitation to the mayor and her team to visit the site, to witness the care standards, despite not addressing the specific allegations regarding animal care or safety concerns. Local 10 News reached out for response from the mayor's office, yet feedback is pending. Meanwhile, the story continues to unravel, with public attentiveness fixed on the future of the Virginia Key marine park and its inhabitants.
