After 70 years of operations, the Miami Seaquarium has closed its doors permanently. The closure comes after years of campaigning by animal rights groups, with at least 120 whales and dolphins dying on site since it opened. Recent incidents of animal mistreatment, such as a dolphin dying from gastric stress and another found with a nail in its throat, further fueled the controversy surrounding the marine park.

The park was evicted from its Virginia Key location, with the Miami-Dade commission serving eviction papers to the site's owner, The Dolphin Company. The closure has sparked discussions about the treatment of marine mammals in captivity, with calls from animal rights organizations for the remaining animals to be sent to seaside sanctuaries to live more natural lives. Plans for the former site indicate that a potential developer may maintain an aquarium without marine mammals such as whales and dolphins.