SeaQuest Fort Worth Shuts Down After Animal Abuse Allegations

SeaQuest, a chain of aquarium and wildlife experiences, has permanently closed the doors of its Fort Worth location following allegations of animal abuse.

“The SeaQuest chain is a scourge, and PETA will continue to call out its dreadful and deadly petting zoos until every location follows suit and closes,” said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in a press statement.

Allegations of animal abuse arose after three former employees of the aquarium contacted PETA. The whistleblowers reported the deaths of two of the center’s nurse sharks.

The unnamed employees attributed the death of the sharks to cramped and inadequately sized tanks. Images and videos of their conditions have been leaked.

“With its history of gruesome animal deaths, filthy conditions, and numerous injuries to the public since its opening in 2017, SeaQuest Fort Worth is clearly incapable of taking care of animals,” wrote Elena Waldman, a writer for PETA.

PETA contacted the Fort Worth police, which opened an investigation into the facility. The case was then transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA had previously cited SeaQuest for several offenses related to animal abuse and neglect.

The closure of SeaQuest Fort Worth follows in the footsteps of another SeaQuest in Colorado. Reports claim that several animals died in transit from Colorado to Fort Worth.

Locations in Connecticut and Georgia closed in 2023, and one in Virginia closed on Oct. 18. There are five remaining SeaQuest locations in California, Nevada, Utah, Minnesota and New Jersey. None of the aquariums are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

PETA has vowed to continue the protest until all SeaQuest locations are closed.

“SeaQuest aquariums are plagued by animal welfare issues, animal deaths, legal violations, and injuries to employees and the public from direct contact with animals,” said PETA in a recent press statement.

Various statements from PETA accuse the organization of poor sanitary conditions, unhealthy water temperatures, overcrowding, exploitation and neglect.

Most SeaQuest locations are operated outside of malls, which is proving to be an unfit location for wild animals.

“It’s what you’d expect from an aquarium in a mostly abandoned mall,” says Mike Ciandella, a Frisco resident who visited SeaQuest at a children’s birthday party in August 2023. “Their enclosure was really kind of sad and tiny.”

Ciandella recalled an employee instructing the children to avoid touching the animals because they bite.

Vince Covino, founder and former CEO, opened the Austin Aquarium before launching SeaQuest. The aquarium is located in a strip mall. During an undercover investigation, PETA disclosed repeated animal aggression at the facility.
SeaQuest Fort Worth was not the only mall aquarium in the Dallas area. SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium is still operating out of Grapevine Mills Mall. The aquarium is accredited.

Covino stepped down from his position in August amid the troubles. He now serves as the CEO of Warrior Sage, a company that specializes in corporate training services.

Neither SeaQuest nor Covino responded to our request for comment.