Connecticut aquarium pays over $12K to settle beluga care investigation
A Connecticut aquarium where three beluga whales have died from illnesses since 2021 has agreed to settle a federal investigation that found alleged animal care and water quality violations
A Connecticut aquarium where three beluga whales died in recent years has agreed to settle a federal investigation over alleged animal care and water quality violations by paying a $12,200 fine while not admitting or denying the accusations.
The whales died from illnesses after being brought to Mystic Aquarium from Canada in 2021, according to the aquarium. The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed the settlement on Aug. 13. The aquarium agreed to the conditions, a spokesperson said Wednesday, adding that there was disagreement over whether violations occurred.
The alleged violations cited by the Department of Agriculture played no role in the deaths of the three whales, said Meagan Seacor, vice president of external relations for the aquarium. The whales had pre-existing health problems that were not detectable before they arrived in Mystic, she said.
The three whales were among five that were brought to Mystic in 2021 from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario, after a lengthy legal battle to obtain permits from both the U.S. and Canada.
