Victory! Miami Seaquarium Is Officially Closed
Huge victory! Following a massively successful PETA campaign and the tireless work of local advocates, the Miami Seaquarium is officially closing on Sunday, October 12. This is a huge moment of triumph for the animals who suffered behind concrete walls and inside dilapidated enclosures for decades.
Four Ways PETA Helped Close the Miami Seaquarium
1. Exposing Constant Animal Suffering
By highlighting USDA inspection reports detailing abuse, including dolphins with broken ribs, dangerous tankmates, lack of shade, denial of vet care, and infrastructure degradation, PETA caught the public’s attention and helped discourage people from visiting the Miami Seaquarium.
2. PETA Mounted Public and Legal Pressure
PETA’s years-long campaign included lawsuits, celebrity ads, letters to county officials, and lively rallies, including one at the Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Office. PETA pressure—along with a decade of weekly protests by local supporters—helped shut this animal-abusing facility’s doors.
3. Pushing for Long-Suffering Orca Lolita’s Release
During a news conference in Miami on March 30, 2023, The Dolphin Company—owner of the Miami Seaquarium—announced plans to release the long-suffering orca Lolita to a seaside sanctuary in Washington state. This announcement followed a massive campaign by PETA in which we had protested and pursued several lawsuits on her behalf. We were joined in our efforts by local residents, celebrities who raised awareness of Lolita’s plight, and compassionate people around the world. Although Lolita died on August 18, 2023, before she could be released, the plans to relocate her showed a massive win for captive orcas.
4. Urging Miami-Dade County to Terminate the Lease
PETA called on Miami-Dade County to end the Seaquarium’s lease after years of violations. In March 2024, the county officially terminated the lease, and in April, the Seaquarium was served an eviction notice. The Dolphin Company refused to leave—until now.
How You Can Help Animals Suffering at Other ‘Abusement’ Parks
Following the long-anticipated closure, PETA is now calling on the Miami Seaquarium to release the marine animals living at the facility into the care of seaside sanctuaries. To help other marine animals, join PETA in urging SeaWorld to send the dolphins and whales it confines to sanctuaries, too.
