Founded in 1955, the Miami Seaquarium has been a Miami staple, but in recent years has faced many controversies about its treatment of animals, leading to Miami-Dade County’s termination of the property.

On March 7, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office sent the property a Notice of Termination, officially sending the Seaquarium off their property.

The controversy regarding the Seaquarium dates back to the death of one of their animals Lollita who died in 2023, — a 20-foot, 7000-pound orca —  held in an 80-foot-long and 35-foot-wide tank only four times her size.

Most recently, a report in January by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service found unsafe conditions from a visit on Oct. 16. In the report it was noted that a dolphin, Bimini, was found with a broken bolt under her mouth.

Before the official shutdown of the Seaquarium,  many PETA supporters had protested for the closing claiming the Seaquarium has constantly mistreated their animals and their care is unsatisfactory.

The property must be vacated by April 21 in which the original lease was set up to 2044.