MIAMI – Miami-Dade County officials are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to take action following allegations from two whistleblowers linked to the Miami Seaquarium.
The concerns range from alleged funding and animal food shortages to a veterinarian with invalid credentials. County officials said the letter was so worrisome that they tried to visit the Virginia Key facility on Wednesday for an unannounced site visit, but were turned away.
The whistleblowers’ warnings have prompted an urgent letter from Miami-Dade Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Morales to prominent USDA members, urging action.
The letter includes two emails sent to county officials, with at least one coming from a former Seaquarium employee.
Read the letter:
It alleges that the head veterinarian at the Seaquarium has left for another facility, leaving only one vet who is allegedly not licensed to practice in the United States.
It also claims that two members of the veterinary staff resigned in protest over the care being provided to the animals. Furthermore, it alleges that the Seaquarium has been unable to pay its staff for more than a month and is struggling to buy food and fund its operations.
“The current alleged violations appear to continue the Seaquarium’s pattern of violations of the Code of Federal Regulations previously identified by the USDA,” the letter states. “As this issue falls under USDA jurisdiction, the county is respectfully requesting immediate advisement and action in the matter.”
This development is the latest in an ongoing saga between the county and the Seaquarium’s owners, The Dolphin Company.
Earlier this year, the county moved to evict them from county-owned land, a move The Dolphin Company has vowed to fight.
The Seaquarium is now only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s unclear who was at the facility Wednesday to turn the county officials away.
Local 10 News has contacted several entities, including The Dolphin Company, for comment and was waiting to hear back.