MIAMI – Two days after a letter from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava became public, informing the troubled Miami Seaquarium of the county’s intent to end the marine park’s lease at its Virginia Key site, Seaquarium leaders are publicly hitting back at the mayor.
The Seaquarium has been dogged lately by issues of, among other things, animal health, structural safety and failing to pay contractors.
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Levine Cava’s letter, dated Sunday and publicly released on Monday, reflected concerns over “multiple and repeated instances of animal welfare violations” and a U.S. Department of Agriculture “Notice of Intent to Confiscate four animals” at the Seaquarium, following an investigation spurred by the death of dolphin Sundance in late December.
A USDA spokesperson said Tuesday that the marine park was now “in compliance,” but didn’t clarify further.
Following repeated questions from Local 10 News and other media outlets since Levine Cava’s letter became public, the Seaquarium responded to the mayor in a statement Wednesday morning, saying it has been “collaborating with the USDA to address some concerns about the care of four complex animal cases” and claiming the mayor and her staff never contacted park management before issuing the lease termination letter.
“We reiterate our disappointment with how Miami(-)Dade County has misused the information they claimed they had received from the USDA regarding animal health issues at MSQ,” the statement reads, in part. “The Mayor and her staff have never reached out to MSQ to confirm the accuracy of this information before making it public. They could have contacted us at any time with any questions or concerns, or even sent an independent (v)eterinarian to confirm the claims, but this was not the case.”
It goes on to say, “We appreciate Mayor Levine’s (sic) interest in the well-being of our animals and will continue to welcome her and her staff to Miami Seaquarium to see firsthand the high standards of animal care we hold as professionals in animal care and to clarify any questions or concerns.”
Its statement notes that the park remains “open and operating.”
The statement doesn’t address specific violations alleged by the USDA, unsafe structure concerns or claims of unpaid vendors.
Local 10 News contacted Levine Cava’s office Wednesday morning seeking a response to the Seaquarium’s statement.