The struggle between Miami-Dade County and The Dolphin Company over the Miami Seaquarium has escalated, with county officials filing a lawsuit in an effort to enforce the eviction of the oceanarium's operators. The legal action comes after the company allegedly failed to comply with a prior eviction notice served in April.
In a joint statement obtained by WSVN, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Raquel Regalado shared that "Our ultimate priority has always been to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the hundreds of animals in the Seaquarium’s care, and it’s critical that we proceed in a manner that best protects them," the county believes that the justification for lease termination still stands, and for that reason, they have decided to take the eviction to court The Dolphin Company has been expected to gracefully exit ensuring a safe, methodical transition, prioritizing the animal's welfare.
Contention around the Miami Seaquarium's management arose following multiple U.S. Department of Agriculture reports citing concerns over animal care. According to NBC Miami, Levine Cava noted a "long and troubling history of violations" in the lease termination sent to The Dolphin Company's CEO.
In response to their looming eviction The Dolphin Company itself had previously initiated a federal lawsuit against the county, alleging unfair targeting, restrictive zoning, and breach of the lease agreement; the lease was previously set to expire in 2044 but however, the county's action underscores ongoing confrontations around the governance of the Seaquarium, the facility reached fame not only as an early marine-themed park but also as the backdrop for the 1960s television series "Flipper."
The Miami Seaquarium also faced extensive scrutiny over its treatment of Lolita, a captive orca that passed away in August, before which, animal rights activists had long advocated for her freedom.
