SeaQuest Holdings, LLC better known as just SeaQuest, is an interactive marine, exotic mammal, and bird/reptile life attraction chain. It was founded by Vince Covino and features hands-on animal interactions at shopping malls throughout the United States.[2] The company has locations in Utah, Texas, Las Vegas, New Jersey, California, Minnesota, Colorado, and Virginia.[3] SeaQuest has attracted considerable controversy and legal issues due to concerns over its animal care standards.
 | |
| Seaquest | |
| Company type | Private |
| Founded | November 2015 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Vince Covino, founder and CEO[1] |
| Services | Entertainment, aquariums, petting zoos |
| Revenue | $5 million |
Number of employees | 300 |
| Website | visitseaquest |
History
SeaQuest was established in 2015 by Vince Covino.[4] Prior to the launch of SeaQuest, along with his brother Ammon, founded Portland Aquarium in 2012 (closed 2016),[5] the Austin Aquarium in 2013[6] and the San Antonio Aquarium in 2014.[7]
SeaQuest opened its first location at Layton, Utah in 2016.[8] This location was followed by one in the Las Vegas area, which also opened in 2016 at The Boulevard Mall.[9] A third location opened in Fort Worth, Texas in 2017.[10]
SeaQuest provides an immersive experience for visitors by allowing guests to touch, feed, and interact with exotic birds, reptiles, mammals, and marine life through hands-on exhibits throughout the aquarium.[11] Although similar to its sister aquariums, SeaQuest locations are usually housed within shopping malls.
SeaQuest's Littleton, Colorado location opened in June 2018.[12] SeaQuest went on to open its fifth location in Folsom in September 2018.[13][12] The company's location at the Stonecrest Mall opened in 2021 and was the first step of a redevelopment project by Stonecrest Resorts.[14]
In June 2023, the Stonecrest, Georgia location permanently closed. A new aquarium is supposed to be taking over the location.[15] In August 2023, the Trumbull, Connecticut location permanently closed after years of animal welfare violations.[16]
Locations
As of 2023, SeaQuest currently has 8 locations across the United States.[3]
| Location | Date Opened |
| Layton, Utah | 2016 |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | 2016 |
| Fort Worth, Texas | 2017 |
| Folsom, California | 2018[17] |
| Roseville, Minnesota | 2018[18] |
| Lynchburg, Virginia | 2019[19] |
| Woodbridge, New Jersey | 2019[20] |
Former locations
| Location | Date Opened | Date Closed |
| Littleton, Colorado | 2018[21] | 2024 |
| Stonecrest, Georgia | 2021[7] | 2023 |
| Trumbull, Connecticut | 2019[18] | 2023 |
Community engagement
SeaQuest organized an event in collaboration with Layton Communities That Care to support the prevention underage drinking.[22] In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, SeaQuest's Stonecrest location also offered free COVID vaccinations.[23][[24] SeaQuest also organized an event for Georbrand Jackson, a 10-year-old who was injured in a drive-by shooting, in December 2021.[25][26]
Violations and incidents
SeaQuest has been subject to boycott and protests by animal-rights advocates such as PETA[27] and actor Alec Baldwin, who blocked an aquarium from being constructed on Long Island.[28] In addition, SeaQuest has had numerous violations and incidents at its various locations.[29]
Littleton, Colorado
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife suspended SeaQuest's exhibitor's license for two years due to an abundance of egregious violations related to the animals' welfare at the facility.[30]
- In 2019, a sloth named Flash was burned by a heat lamp on two occasions resulting in significant burns to its face.[31] The employee responsible for the animal's care was charged with cruelty-to-animals, but was found not guilty.[32]
- In 2018, Colorado Parks and Wildlife cited and fined SeaQuest for failing to report the death of a regulated kookaburra and issued warnings for the unlawful importation and possession of six wood ducks, unlawful importation of a caiman and wallaby, five counts of failing to report injuries to humans, and failing to report the deaths of 250 trout.[33]
- In 2018, SeaQuest failed a Colorado Department of Agriculture pre-license inspection. Issues included illegal transfer of koi fish, unsanitary conditions, and allowing visitors to walk through the aviary while birds were grounded, creating a precarious environment where the birds were vulnerable to being stepped on.[34]
- Additional events in 2018 included SeaQuest storing approximately 80 parakeets in an employee's garage after the company was ordered to shut down the interactive aviary,[35] and a state fine for SeaQuest's unlawful procurement of a two-toed sloth and failure to obtain an appropriate license for the animal.[36]
- Approximately 30 injuries involving animal-to-human bites were reported to occur between June 2018 and January 2019.[37]
- Permanently closed on February 4, 2024 due to animal welfare violations.[38]
Las Vegas, Nevada
- In 2019, Clark County Administrative Services suspended SeaQuest's exotic-animal permit because the facility held unpermitted otters and coatimundi. The agency imposed a $2,000 fine due to an Asian small-clawed otter dying after being caught in a water pool filtration system, and imposed an additional $2,000 fine for unpermitted animal breeding of Asian small-clawed otters.[28][39]
- In 2018, a capybara named Wesley escaped while en route to a veterinary office and was injured in the process.[40]
Fort Worth, Texas
- In 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture cited SeaQuest for failing to reduce the risk of injury to visitors during public encounters with an Asian small-clawed otter.[41]