Miami Seaquarium Miami Seaquarium

Been musing over something - The Dolphin Company maintains 4 facilities with AZA accreditation and has another currently in the pathways program. So what the heck is up with Miami Seaquarium? The overseeing company is capable of maintaining to AZA standards and thus is plenty familiar with the standards. So why then is the Seaquarium sinking like a rock? Are the direct managers simply not caring? Seems to be some support that direction via USDA reports, and it appears plenty of employees have been fired for backtalk or speaking out. But if these kind of problems are going on and hurting the company's public image why isn't anything being done by the higher ups? Very odd situation the more I think about it.
 
Great Argus said:
Been musing over something - The Dolphin Company maintains 4 facilities with AZA accreditation and has another currently in the pathways program. So what the heck is up with Miami Seaquarium? The overseeing company is capable of maintaining to AZA standards and thus is plenty familiar with the standards. So why then is the Seaquarium sinking like a rock? Are the direct managers simply not caring? Seems to be some support that direction via USDA reports, and it appears plenty of employees have been fired for backtalk or speaking out. But if these kind of problems are going on and hurting the company's public image why isn't anything being done by the higher ups? Very odd situation the more I think about it.
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I think the Seaquarium’s infrastructure compared to the other properties is a big factor. I believe the majority of the park has only been built and nothing ever updated - meaning almost everything there is as it has been since its beginning. It is legitimately a time capsule, except the penguins and dolphin encounters.

I know some people who tried to work there a few years ago and were lured in by promises of future AZA accreditation. I think the intention at the lower levels has always been there, but I also think there’s just no way with their current processes. Higher ups would be teaching best practices as they’re learning them. Not to mention the current facilities just can’t support a lot of AZA standards - not just exhibits but back of house things like food prep. Then it’s just “which came first? The facilities or the best practices?”
 
Joseph G said:
I think the Seaquarium’s infrastructure compared to the other properties is a big factor. I believe the majority of the park has only been built and nothing ever updated - meaning almost everything there is as it has been since its beginning. It is legitimately a time capsule, except the penguins and dolphin encounters.
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This is definitely true - they're definitely at a disadvantage there. They don't seem to be throwing much money at updating anything though for how many USDA citations they keep getting, along with the city deeming four structures on property as structurally hazardous. I'd certainly expect fixing up even the main problem areas would be quite expensive at this point.

Joseph G said:
Not to mention the current facilities just can’t support a lot of AZA standards - not just exhibits but back of house things like food prep. Then it’s just “which came first? The facilities or the best practices?”
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Also true - though it's no excuse for some of the reported husbandry issues.
 
Big news: the Miami Seaquarium’s lead veterinarian has now resigned. To my knowledge no new veterinarian has been hired since November (in which a report stated the lead vet was the only one); this means the Seaquarium has no veterinarian to provide care to the “46 marine mammals, 50 birds, and hundreds of fish”.

Source: Miami Seaquarium head veterinarian resigning in latest blow to troubled facility
 
BlobfishBoy said:
Big news: the Miami Seaquarium’s lead veterinarian has now resigned. To my knowledge no new veterinarian has been hired since November (in which a report stated the lead vet was the only one); this means the Seaquarium has no veterinarian to provide care to the “46 marine mammals, 50 birds, and hundreds of fish”.

Source: Miami Seaquarium head veterinarian resigning in latest blow to troubled facility
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A place like the Seaquarium cannot afford to have this happen. Zoos and aquariums simply cannot survive without a veterinarian. Every week it just keeps getting worse and worse for this place.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
this means the Seaquarium has no veterinarian to provide care to the “46 marine mammals, 50 birds, and hundreds of fish”.
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That's not exactly what the article says. It says that he is resigning and that the resignation is "anticipated" and then "County officials have not yet confirmed whether Comolli’s resignation will leave the Seaquarium without a veterinarian."

So clearly this is a really, really, bad development, but it is unclear if they are without a vet at this immediate time or not.

It will surprise me if the Seaquarium makes it through the next month.
 
SwampDonkey said:
That's not exactly what the article says. It says that he is resigning and that the resignation is "anticipated" and then "County officials have not yet confirmed whether Comolli’s resignation will leave the Seaquarium without a veterinarian."

So clearly this is a really, really, bad development, but it is unclear if they are without a vet at this immediate time or not.

It will surprise me if the Seaquarium makes it through the next month.
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You are correct about it saying “resigning”, implying she may still be working there for now and that it states it’s “unclear” on whether they’ll be left without vet. I personally feel like the Seaquarium would’ve made a statement by now if they really did have another vet but we’ll see.
 
BlobfishBoy said:
You are correct about it saying “resigning”, implying she may still be working there for now and that it states it’s “unclear” on whether they’ll be left without vet. I personally feel like the Seaquarium would’ve made a statement by now if they really did have another vet but we’ll see.
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It's not so much that they may have another vet, but rather that we don't know the resignation was/is immediate. Often people resign effective a certain date or condition (such as hiring a replacement).
 
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The Seaquarium has been given an official termination notice regarding their lease. They’ve been giving until April 21st to vacate and if they haven’t left by then, the eviction process will occur. The park does have the option of fighting the eviction in court if they choose to. It may FINALLY be time that the Miami Seaquarium as we know it will disappear (good riddance).

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article286361235.html
 
BlobfishBoy said:
The Seaquarium has been given an official termination notice regarding their lease. They’ve been giving until April 21st to vacate and if they haven’t left by then, the eviction process will occur. The park does have the option of fighting the eviction in court if they choose to. It may FINALLY be time that the Miami Seaquarium as we know it will disappear (good riddance).

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article286361235.html
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Article is behind paywall, is the news available anywhere else?
 
JVM said:
Perhaps the building can be rehabilitated into some kind of museum dedicated to marine life without living animal attractions? Seems like a way to keep the unique, historic elements in place without creating new risks to real animals.
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That I think would be a good way to go forward. Though part of me wants to say that with a good amount of redevelopment it could even have minor aquarium features and maybe some aviaries as well; maintained by those who do well. But I do think one thing has long been ascertained - should it be that the Seaquarium is forced to close down; a possibility which now is even more likely than ever [for the amount of times that has been said], the park simply cannot go back to having marine mammals. Do many people even think much about 'Flipper' these days?
 
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