Miami Seaquarium has officially received an eviction notice from county – NBC 6 South Florida

The Miami Seaquarium officially received an eviction notice one day after the county’s deadline to vacate the property and terminate the lease early.

Miami-Dade County on Monday served the eviction notice on the Dolphin Company, which owns and operates the Seaquarium, and declared “its intent to immediately pursue an eviction action to remove the tenant from the premises.”

“The county continues to believe that the grounds for terminating the lease still exist to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals currently in their care,” said a joint statement from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Commissioner Raquel Regalado. “It is our hope that the Dolphin Company will take the necessary steps to vacate the premises and ensure that the transition is done in a safe and orderly manner, especially for the animals in their care. If they do not, the province will move forward with the eviction process in court.”

The Seaquarium remained open for business Monday amid the ongoing dispute. It also remained open Sunday despite the province’s April 21 deadline for terminating leases.

The expulsion comes after USDA reports citing the Seaquarium’s failure to provide adequate treatment, protection and care for the animals. According to the USDA, some animals had lung and lung diseases, lacked the necessary nutritious diet and even had untreated serious injuries from attacks by aggressive animals.

Activists gathered outside the Seaquarium on Sunday for a funeral-themed demonstration, calling for justice for several Seaquarium animals who have died, such as Lolita the orca and Bud the sea lion.

Meanwhile, the Dolphin Company has filed a federal lawsuit against the county, alleging that the Seaquarium has been unfairly targeted, that restrictive zoning laws are hindering the facility’s growth, and that the lease agreement is being violated.