ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A former Marineland trainer is calling for federal oversight and immediate protections for the dolphins at Marineland Dolphin Adventure as the park’s parent company navigates bankruptcy proceedings.
The Dolphin Company, based in Mexico, owns Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Johns County, near the Flagler County line. It filed for bankruptcy in March.
Kat Rust, who says she worked as a marine mammal trainer at Marineland for five years under previous ownership, told News4JAX she’s worried about the 17 dolphins currently at the facility.
“Marineland was a great place,” Rust said. “The management has let it fail and is now beyond saving. So, we’ve got to make sure those animals are safe.”
Rust is now a member of Tide Breakers, an animal rights organization petitioning Congress to hold The Dolphin Company accountable for the welfare of its animals.
The group launched a Change.org petition calling for a congressional oversight hearing into The Dolphin Company’s Florida parks and for a federal investigation into the USDA’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.
In its petition, Tide Breakers claims that during the bankruptcy process, The Dolphin Company’s four Florida parks “are failing to pay employees, rent, vendors, and even the labs and medications essential for the animals’ care.”
Rust said she fears the company may not have the resources to provide adequate care for the dolphins.
“This is about the current situation those animals are in and what is required to provide the care for them — both financially and ethically,” Rust said. “It pains me to say that, but the best-case scenario is the property is purchased, and those animals are moved responsibly to other facilities in the U.S. that can provide the care they need.”
News4JAX reached out to Marineland for comment, but we have not received a response. However, one former employee, who asked not to be identified, said the allegations are unfounded.
A federal court hearing is scheduled for Monday to discuss the potential sale of the park and the future of its animals. The judge could approve a $7 million bid from a developer who does not plan to keep the animals.
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Meanwhile, a coalition led by dolphin experts and a Clay County couple has expressed interest in making its own bid to keep Marineland operational. The judge could reopen the bidding process to allow that offer.