Theater of the Sea Faces Uproar as PETA Kicks Off Multi-City ‘Free the Dolphins’ Campaign

For Immediate Release:
June 16, 2026

Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382

“Dolphins Suffer Here!” That’s the message PETA supporters and a crying costumed “dolphin”—trapped in a bubble and struggling to break free—will bring to Theater of the Sea on Thursday, as part of PETA’s Free the Dolphins campaign, a nationwide initiative that will hit marine parks across the country in coordinated rallies on the same day.

PETA wants people to know that Theater of the Sea breeds dolphins in captivity and confines them to cramped enclosures where they can do little more than swim in endless circles. The park also subjects dolphins to stressful “swim with dolphins” encounters and hands-on interactions, in which the animals are repeatedly touched, grabbed, and forced to kiss strangers.

“At Theater of the Sea, dolphins are denied everything natural and important to them, crammed into tiny enclosures where they endure a barrage of grabbing hands, and forced to perform,” says PETA President Tracy Reiman. “From coast to coast, PETA is calling on marine abusement parks to release these animals to seaside sanctuaries, where they could finally have some semblance of a natural life.”

Where:           Outside Theater of the Sea, 84721 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada

When:             Thursday, June 18, 12 noon

Credit: PETA

Why: In nature, dolphins can swim up to 60 miles a day, dive deep beneath the ocean’s surface, and live in close-knit family pods. Yet at marine parks, they’re often forced into incompatible social groups, with nowhere to escape when conflicts erupt among other frustrated animals. Those exploited for hands-on encounters endure frequent handling, which can cause stress, illness, and injury. These attractions also pose health risks to humans, as many illnesses—including viral, fungal, and bacterial infections such as salmonella—can be passed from dolphins to human visitors.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.