Summary
- Florida politicians are pushing for state removal of Gulf World animals
- Authority for removal is dependent on cooperation between state and federal agencies
- Bankruptcy proceedings are creating delays
- Former CEO of The Dolphin Company is causing delays in bankruptcy proceedings
- New documentation from NOAA confirms park’s pinnipeds moved to Miami Seaquarium
- A leading zoo conducted an emergency relocation of one of its dolphins from a Dolphin Company park for welfare reasons
The Fifth Death
The latest death at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, FL has state politicians rallying for the removal of the park’s remaining dolphins. This week’s death of Samira, a bottlenose dolphin rescued from a stranding on Princess Beach, FL, in 2016, follows the deaths of Jett, born at the park and deceased during a performance on March 1, and Nate, Gus, and Turk, all born at SeaWorld Orlando and all three deceased within an eight day period in October 2024.
State officials are currently asking the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to facilitate the moves, but the ultimate decision may be up to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which administers portions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and oversees the national Marine Mammal Index, a historic listing of marine mammals in captive facilities, has been referring inquiries to the USDA, stating that the Agriculture Department has the responsibility over permitting of marine mammals in facilities. The only exceptions are imported animals and those captured in the wild, which would require a NOAA permit. However, NOAA’s permitting office has advised us that animals rescued from the wild, such as Samira, are not considered wild caught and oversight is transferred to USDA upon placement in a facility.
Complicating matters is the bankruptcy of Gulf World’s parent company, Mexico-based The Dolphin Company. Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein has expressed her concern a number of times during the bankruptcy proceedings about a need to address animal welfare. This need has become secondary as the new management of The Dolphin Company has not been able to gain access to the company headquarters nor to financial records, a result of former CEO Eduardo Albor’s belief that his termination as CEO and board member were handled illegally and it appears he is of the belief he is still in both positions.
FWC has been joined by Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and USDA officials in an ongoing investigation, visiting the park a number of times since the March 1 death of Jett the dolphin.
Emergency moves
In the following video from our partners TideBreakers, you can see the conditions of the pinniped tanks in March 2025.
A series of newly acquired emails shows a request for two harbor seals and two sea lions to be transported to the Miami Seaquarium on February 24, 2025. This transfer was delayed, with all six pinnipeds eventually relocated to Miami on April 21.
On February 27, one of North America’s most prestigious zoos, Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, issued an emergency request to relocate Tatum, its dolphin on loan to Dolphin Connection, operated by The Dolphin Company in the Florida Keys, to Coral World in the US Virgin Islands, on grounds of welfare concerns. Brookfield was so adamant on removing the dolphin that it presented a B plan solution should Coral World not be able to immediately accept the animal – that it be temprarily housed at SeaWorld Orlando. It then came up with a C plan in case SeaWorld was unable to move animals around to house the dolphin – temporary housing at the Dolphin Research Center.
When it comes down it, Brookfield Zoo repossessed its own dolphin, based on concerns for its care at Gulf World’s sister park.
Testimony presented during the bankruptcy hearing in the past few weeks have shown that food levels at a number of facilities operated by The Dolphin Company had been cut by as much as 50%. In addition, lawyers for the Hawk’s Cay Resort, where Dolphin Connection is located, have expressed their concern to the court that the park is months behind on its rent.
For the latest on Gulf World Marine Park and other properties owned by The Dolphin Company, visit The Flip on Facebook and TideBreakers.org
TOP OF THE PAGE: An out of date photo of the entrance to Gulf World, from the park’s website. The entrance structure has been condemned by the city and is off limits to the public, currently barricaded by temporary fencing.
