Miami-Dade County Continues Eviction Efforts Against Miami Seaquarium Despite Judge’s Ruling
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava remains resolute in the County’s efforts to evict the Miami Seaquarium from its Biscayne Bay location, despite a recent court ruling that slowed the process. On Wednesday, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Barket denied the County’s request for an immediate eviction and directed both parties to proceed with an October 21 mediation to address their ongoing disputes.
The eviction effort centers on the Seaquarium’s failure to make timely lease payments. However, Mayor Levine Cava’s office clarified that the judge’s ruling was limited to this issue and does not hinder the County’s broader legal strategy. “It does not impact the County’s ability to continue to seek eviction in this case,” said a statement from the mayor’s office. The statement also emphasized the County’s confidence in its legal grounds for eviction and indicated that further actions are being considered following the court’s decision.
The Seaquarium and its owner, The Dolphin Co., have not publicly commented on the eviction, nor have they addressed the legal proceedings on social media. The company did not return requests for comment.
The County initially moved to evict the Seaquarium on April 22, citing the park’s deteriorating condition and a series of federal violations regarding animal welfare. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued multiple citations against the Seaquarium, accusing it of allowing animals to suffer from illness or injury without proper care. The park’s most high-profile loss was the death of Lolita, the killer whale who had been in captivity at the Seaquarium since 1972. Her death, attributed by some former trainers to inadequate care, sparked international attention and further fueled criticisms of the park’s management.
During Wednesday’s court hearing, County attorneys pushed for a default judgment against the Seaquarium for failing to make an $88,000 lease payment on time. Seaquarium attorney Hilton Napoleon II defended the park, arguing that the missed payment was only 12 hours late and that the consequences of eviction would be catastrophic. He warned that over 200 employees would lose their jobs, and more than 1,000 animals, many of them endangered or protected species, could face dire consequences. Additionally, he claimed that the County’s true motive behind the eviction is to seize the valuable land on which the Seaquarium has operated for nearly 70 years.
Napoleon also alleged that the County has obstructed efforts to repair the park, refusing to issue necessary building permits for maintenance. He claimed this has contributed to the facility’s deteriorating state, undermining the Seaquarium’s ability to meet its obligations under the lease.
Mayor Levine Cava has been vocal about the need for action, stating in March that “the current state of the Miami Seaquarium is unsustainable and unsafe.” The County continues to stand by its decision to pursue eviction, framing it as a necessary measure to protect both the animals and the public. With mediation scheduled for later this month, the future of the Miami Seaquarium—and the fate of its staff and animals—remains uncertain.
For now, the iconic theme park, which has been part of Miami’s landscape for nearly seven decades, faces a critical juncture as it battles to remain at its historic Virginia Key location.
Miami Seaquarium: Why It’s Time to Close the Doors on Animal Cruelty
The Miami Seaquarium has long been a popular tourist destination, but beneath the surface, its treatment of animals has drawn increasing criticism. The facility has become notorious for housing animals in cramped and inadequate conditions, resulting in physical and psychological harm. Recent inspections, reports, and public outcry have only highlighted the need for the Seaquarium to be shut down, with its animal residents transferred to sanctuaries where they can live healthier and more natural lives.
Lolita the Orca: A Symbol of Captivity’s Cruelty
One of the most well-known cases of animal mistreatment at the Miami Seaquarium is that of Lolita, an orca who has lived in captivity since 1970. For over 50 years, Lolita has been confined to one of the smallest orca tanks in the world, without the company of other orcas, and subjected to unnatural performances for human entertainment. Lolita’s tank, which measures only 80 feet long and 35 feet wide, falls well below the standard for her size and needs.
Orcas are highly social animals that swim hundreds of miles in the wild and live in close-knit family groups. Lolita’s prolonged isolation and confinement have taken a severe toll on her mental and physical health. Animal rights groups have campaigned for her release to a seaside sanctuary, where she could experience a more natural environment. While Lolita’s plight has garnered international attention, the conditions for other animals at the Miami Seaquarium are just as troubling.
Bottlenose Dolphins: Signs of Stress and Suffering
The bottlenose dolphins at the Seaquarium are also suffering in ways that reflect the facility’s broader neglect of animal welfare. PETA has observed dolphins with worn-down teeth, likely a result of stress-induced behaviors such as biting on the concrete walls and metal bars of their tanks. In captivity, dolphins lack the ability to engage in natural behaviors like hunting and exploring, leading to frustration and health issues. Worn teeth can expose the sensitive inner pulp cavity, making dolphins vulnerable to infections and other illnesses that are common in captivity.
Furthermore, the tanks that house these dolphins are sterile, artificial environments, offering no natural enrichment. Dolphins are forced to perform tricks and swim with visitors, further exposing them to germs and stress. The Seaquarium’s practice of prioritizing entertainment over the well-being of these animals is emblematic of its disregard for the animals’ basic needs.
Other Suffering Species: Cockatoos, Sea Turtles, and Manatees
The Miami Seaquarium’s mistreatment of animals is not limited to marine mammals. A lone yellow-crested cockatoo, observed during a recent visit, displayed neurotic behaviors such as continual head-flipping, a clear sign of psychological distress. Cockatoos are social birds that thrive in the company of other birds, forming strong, lifelong bonds. In the wild, they engage in complex social interactions, communicate through body language, and exhibit nurturing behaviors. In contrast, the isolated cockatoo at the Seaquarium is deprived of the companionship and freedom it needs to live a fulfilling life.
The Seaquarium is also home to a sea turtle confined to a tank that fails to meet its needs. Sea turtles are known for traveling thousands of miles in the ocean, navigating through Earth’s magnetic fields and ocean currents. Being kept in a small, barren tank prevents them from engaging in their natural behaviors and poses a serious threat to their well-being. Similarly, the manatees at the Seaquarium live in cramped concrete tanks, deprived of the vast, enriching environments they would have access to in the wild. The artificial conditions provided at the Seaquarium fall woefully short of what these animals need to thrive.
USDA Findings: A Facility in Decline
In June 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a damning report on the Miami Seaquarium, outlining a series of serious problems. These issues included poor water quality, incompatible animal pairings that led to injuries, substandard diets that could cause malnutrition, and inadequate shelter from the elements. The report also criticized the routines forced on Lolita, which have been deemed inappropriate and dangerous for an orca of her age and condition.
The USDA report highlights the systemic neglect at the Miami Seaquarium. Between March 2019 and April 2020, five bottlenose dolphins and a California sea lion died at the facility. These deaths add to the growing evidence that the Seaquarium’s outdated practices are causing unnecessary harm to the animals in its care. While the facility has made promises of reform, including hiring a new veterinarian and implementing new care programs, these measures fall short of addressing the root of the problem: keeping these animals in captivity in the first place.
The Call for Closure
The Miami Seaquarium’s legacy is one of animal suffering, and it’s time for that legacy to end. Lolita, the dolphins, manatees, birds, and sea turtles deserve more than concrete tanks and sterile enclosures. They deserve a chance to live in environments that more closely resemble their natural habitats, where they can engage in the behaviors that are crucial to their well-being. Seaside sanctuaries and naturalistic environments are the ethical alternative to the Seaquarium’s cramped and unnatural conditions.
Closing the Miami Seaquarium is not only a moral imperative but a necessary step in the broader movement to end the exploitation of animals for entertainment. As public awareness of animal rights grows, the demand for marine parks like the Seaquarium is waning. It’s time to listen to the voices of activists, experts, and concerned citizens calling for the end of this facility’s cruel practices.
By refusing to support the Miami Seaquarium and other marine parks, and by urging companies to retire these animals to sanctuaries, we can take a stand against animal cruelty and work towards a future where wild animals are treated with the respect and care they deserve.
