Miami-Dade County filed a lawsuit Tuesday to formally evict The Dolphin Company from the Miami Seaquarium after serving a notice of termination back on April 22.
The company failed to vacate the premises, and now Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has filed the eviction complaint, the next step in the process.
A joint statement from Mayor Cava and Commissioner Raquel Regalado, whose district includes the Seaquarium, read: “Our ultimate priority has always been to ensure the safety and well-being of the hundreds of animals in the Seaquarium’s care, and it’s critical that we proceed in a manner that best protects them.”
They went on to say they believed the grounds for the termination “are still present,” although Seaquarium officials said they had adhered to all of the recommendations after the U.S. Department of Agriculture had completed the inspections.
“We expect the Dolphin Company to take the necessary steps to vacate the premises and ensure that the transition is done in a safe and orderly manner, especially for the animals under their care,” Mayor Cava and Commissioner Regalado wrote. “It’s time to turn the page on a new chapter …”
The Seaquarium is home to roughly 500 animals, including fish, birds, reptiles and marine mammals.
Among the list of issues the County has had with MS Leisure, the leasing owners of the Seaquarium, are:
• Improper separation of animals (dolphins and manatees);
• Improper staffing, again;
• Improper handling of animals (dolphins);
• Improper maintenance of facilities;
• Lack of veterinary care for dolphins, again.
The lawsuit notes that violations of the Animal Welfare Act have taken place.
The Dolphin Company’s lease, which was signed in 2022, is set to end in 2044, according to reports.
Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, said earlier this year he was happy with the “strong support” he had received from his staff and guests. In an Instagram post, he said, “We are highly confident that all animals will continue to receive top-notch care from the professional specialists at the Miami Seaquarium, as they have since day one under The Dolphin Company’s operation and will continue for the remaining duration of the lease.”
In an Islander News interview earlier this year, a former worker said he has followed the course of actions and has seen the lapses in care at the facility.
The Miami Seaquarium was built in 1955, billed as the largest attraction of its kind in the world at the time. It housed the TV star “Flipper” among its vast array of marine and land animals.
The County’s complaint can be found here: MDC v. MS LEISURE CORPORATION COMPLAINT.pdf
