MIAMI — The Miami Seaquarium is set to close its doors for good this week.
On Wednesday, Local 10’s Christina Vazquez caught up with Miami-Dade County District 7 Commissioner Raquel Regalado following her tour of Miami Seaquarium, which is operated by The Dolphin Company.
The Miami Seaquarium is in Regalado’s district. She is also the county’s liaison with the bankruptcy court.
Set to close its doors to the public this Sunday, Vazquez asked Regalado about what will happen with the animals in the operator’s care.
“The animals are always going to be under the care of the employees,” said Regalado, “The fact that there won’t be humans coming to see them doesn’t mean that there won’t be humans taking care of them. If the animals are still here, the employees (who) take care of these animals will also be here.”
As Local 10 News was first to report, a proposed redevelopment proposal by Miami developer Terra has been selected amid the Dolphin Company’s federal bankruptcy court proceedings. The developer’s proposal includes an aquarium concept and marine mammals.
“The main thing is what’s the difference between an aquarium and the Seaquarium, and it’s no marine mammals,” said Regalado. “A lot of people have questions as to the future of this, and the bulk of the animals could remain because they’re not marine mammals, but the marine mammals are the ones that people have a lot of questions about and as I mentioned, those are difficult because there’s not a lot of places to house them.”
A representative of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, co-counsel to the debtor in possession, told Local 10 News that updates on the status of animal transfers, as they proceed, will be found on the claims and noticing agent website for the cases.
That developer bid is pending approval from the bankruptcy court and the full board of county commissioners. A ruling from the federal bankruptcy court judge is expected during an upcoming hearing on Oct. 17.
“We’ve gotten so many questions from people about the animals,” said Regalado. “And obviously, we’re going to be working with USDA and with the federal government and Miami-Dade County and the bankruptcy court to re-home the animals, but we wanted to check in on them, see how many animals we’re talking about.
“As you know, it’s a pretty extensive list, and obviously, the focus is on the dolphins, on the sea lions. There (are) no more manatees in this space, but there’s also a plethora of other animals, from flamingos to penguins to birds to lizards. It’s a pretty extensive list.”
Regarding the marine mammal category, Regalado was asked how many need to be transported and transferred, if and when that happens, where the animals would end up.
There are currently 16 dolphins and 24 seals and sea lions inside the facility, Local 10 News has learned.
“The issue is the much, much older ones,” said Regalado. “For example, we have one sea lion that is 20 years older than sea lions usually live. He’s blind, he has some issues. There (are) some older animals that were confiscated and brought here, so those are the ones that are going to be difficult to re-home. There (aren’t) a lot of sanctuaries (and) sanctuaries are very expensive, so that’s one of the things that we’re looking into, trying to figure out where we place them.”
Another issue, Regalado said, is that other marine sites have also recently closed.
“So in terms of the market, there’s a lot of animals looking for homes, which is why I said I don’t know if it’s all going to get done by December because it’s a lot of animals,” she said. “And all of this is regulated by the USDA, even the birds.”
Regalado said the county “cannot take action until the bankruptcy court takes action.”
As for the developer’s new aquarium concept, Regalado was asked how many of the animals that are not marine mammals can be part of the new attraction.
“Several of them can,” she said. “So the birds definitely can, the fish can, and that’s a decision that needs to be made with whoever takes the place of the leaseholder.
“We also have to find a temporary home for them, or if they can fix the site in phases so that the animals can stay here. Ideally, that would be the best, but it all depends on the permits, and how long, and the (demolition).”
Some animals, she said, may temporarily end up at Zoo Miami. It’s something she said has been floated in discussions.
”We’re sharing that information with the bankruptcy court and with whoever takes the place of the leaseholder,“ Regalado said. ”There are options, but Zoo Miami also has its own issues in terms of space. It might be a good temporary home, but it all depends.”
Wednesday’s anticipated bankruptcy court hearing was cancelled.
“The reason that it was postponed is because they have to give people time to bring in alternative bids,” said Regalado. “But we’re expecting for the court to make a decision (on Oct. 17).”
Once that happens, Regalado said the county would then begin its negotiations with the developer.
“And then I will be drafting an item to bring to the county commission,” she said.
Local 10 reached out to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and NOAA Fisheries for comment, but either did not receive a reply by the time of this story’s publication or received an out-of-office reply that the person we were trying to reach is “in a furlough status with limited, intermittent ability to work on only mission essential activities” adding they will “respond to emails once government functions resume.”
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