In a state known for its theme parks, a very different kind of attraction is now making headlines—and not for the right reasons.
The glitz of roller coasters and character parades has long overshadowed the quieter controversy brewing at a series of marine parks scattered across Florida. But after months of internal conflict, animal deaths, and mounting legal pressure, one company is now facing its toughest time yet.
A Long History of Trouble Comes to a Boil
The Dolphin Company, which operates marine attractions around the world, has spent years trying to maintain control over its troubled Florida properties. At the center of the storm is Miami Seaquarium, a park plagued by animal welfare violations and declining public trust.
In early 2024, the Seaquarium lost its American Humane Association certification and fell behind on nearly $88,000 in rent owed to Miami-Dade County. That March, officials terminated the lease agreement, sparking a legal dispute when the park refused to close its doors. The decision came after a series of damning federal inspections.
Those reports included serious findings: a dolphin with a two-inch nail in its throat, deteriorating enclosures, and water samples that tested positive for hazardous bacteria. Staffing was also minimal, with just one veterinarian reportedly responsible for dozens of animals, including sharks, manatees, and sea turtles.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, things were unraveling further.
$10,000-a-Day Sanctions and a Fractured Empire
This year, The Dolphin Company filed for bankruptcy protection. But the filing didn’t halt the turmoil. Former CEO Eduardo Albor—once the face of the organization—was accused of barring debtors and court officials from entering the company’s Cancun offices. Reports say he returned with individuals impersonating armed state police.
Now, a U.S. bankruptcy judge has imposed a $10,000 daily sanction on Albor, retroactive to June 19. The fine was issued after he allegedly refused to comply with a court order barring interference in a company entity called Controladora Dolphin.
Presiding Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein called Albor’s legal obstruction “undisputed” and warned of broader consequences for the company’s animals. She did not issue a ruling on the alleged misappropriation of funds but made clear that continued interference could risk the entire operation.
“He needs to step back,” she told Albor’s attorney, James Moon, who maintained that his client cared deeply about the company and its animals.
Animal Deaths Prompt Urgent Sales
To stabilize the company, lenders have infused $10 million in emergency funds and proposed a managed sale of several properties. An $18 million loan package was approved by the court to fund daily operations—including animal care, staff wages, and vendor payments.
The sale includes six parks: three in Florida—Gulf World Marine Park, Marineland Dolphin Adventure, and The Dolphin Connection—and three in Italy. Miami Seaquarium, notably, is not among the parks currently up for sale.
Gulf World, one of the properties marked for sale, has been closed since May following the death of a fifth dolphin in under a year. The most recent, Samira, was a 9-year-old bottlenose dolphin. The park has not disclosed a cause of death. Earlier losses prompted Florida Sen. Jay Trumbull to call the deaths “disturbing and unacceptable,” urging the removal of all remaining dolphins.
Although the park initially aimed to reopen in June, it has remained shuttered. According to Florida wildlife officials, surviving dolphins have already been relocated, and additional transfers are underway.
The Dolphin Company now faces a strict timeline: within 60 days from June 25, it must secure court approval to sell Gulf World. If all deadlines are met, the sale could close in less than three months.
What happens next may determine not only the future of Miami Seaquarium but the fate of marine parks across the region. For now, both the animals and the staff remain in limbo—caught between bankruptcy filings and boardroom power struggles.
What do you think should happen to Miami Seaquarium and Gulf World Marine Park?
