Miami Seaquarium

Miami Seaquarium

The Miami Seaquarium is a 38 acre oceanarium on Virginia Key, situated in Biscayne Bay of Miami-Dade County, Florida, in close proximity to downtown Miami. Opened by Fred D. Coppock and Captain W.B. Gray on September 24, 1955 it is the oldest operational oceanarium in the United States.

From 1963 through 1967, eighty-eight episodes of the 1960s TV show Flipper and two movies starring Flipper were filmed at the Miami Seaquarium. From 1963 to 1991, the Seaquarium also had the Miami Seaquarium Spacerail, which was the first hanging monorail in the United States.

In 2014 Miami Seaquarium was bought by Palace Entertainment.

In 2022, the Miami Seaquarium was acquired by The Dolphin Company, which currently owns and operates the park.

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections

The Miami Seaquarium was cited on September 27 for multiple violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, according to the latest federal inspection report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The violations include:

• An incident where a dolphin bit a patron’s hand during an interactive handling session.
• Endangering a dolphin who ingested plastic and a chunk of concrete in a deteriorating tank.
• Holding a manatee alone in an enclosure lacking shade.
• Allowing a dolphin to sustain rib injuries, likely from being confined and unable to escape from incompatible tankmates.
• Failing to have appropriate veterinary oversight. This was evidenced by trainers being instructed not to contact the veterinarian and numerous veterinarian and vet tech positions being left vacant.

See also

• Hugo - orca
• Lolita - orca

External links

• USDA Inspection Report Findings Memo - Miami Seaquarium Miami Dade County