JUST SAY "NO" TO SEAQUEST!

LAW VIOLATIONS - ILLEGAL IMPORTATION - ANIMAL HEALTH/SAFETY VIOLATIONS - HIGH MORTALITY RATES 

Please sign this petition to CLOSE all SEAQUEST INTERACTIVE AQUARIUMS ~if you agree that wild animals belong in their natural habitat, not held captive for exploitation!!

Thank you from all the captive animals and me!

                               Julie 

PS The more signers, the better!! Thanks for sharing!

Photo copied and excerpts below are from a similar petition at

https://www.change.org/p/seaquest-interactive-aquarium-in-sacramento-county-needs-to-go and from an article written by Denver7.

I have neither participated in writing or verification of the articles cited and take no credit or responsibility. i am only posting them to lend greater exposure to a larger community.

(start of excerpts) Following are excerpts from an article written about Seaquest's questionable practices by Denver7 (Contact7):

"Officials from the Colorado Department of Agriculture aren't the first to question the company's practices. Residents in Las Vegas held a protest last year after an ex-employee questioned how animals were being treated. Protests have also taken place outside a Florida mall where SeaQuest is set to open this fall"

"Contact7 started looking into SeaQuest and CEO Vince Covino after hearing from viewers disturbed by the conditions inside"

"The animals seemed scared which made me sad, so until they can fix something I don't think we're going to venture that way," said Molly Griffin after she made a trip to the aquarium."

"a cease and desist order was issued...for operating without a valid license and violating the Pet Animal Care Facility Act."

"Covino, a former broker, is now running aquariums in several states including Utah, Nevada, Texas and Colorado. His brother was sent to prison in 2013 after illegally obtaining and shipping spotted eagle rays and lemon sharks for an aquarium in Idaho.
The Covino brothers operated an aquarium in Oregon called the Portland Aquarium. It was also the subject of protests and questions about animal welfare.

"I absolutely do not think that they even care about the animals in the slightest, let alone have their best interest at heart," said Jennifer Brownlee, a mom who started the Boycott Portland Aquarium Facebook page."

"Colorado Department of Agriculture...employee responded, "We continue to receive complaints about SeaQuest and we investigate complaints."

"allegations were made regarding the "care of the animals", that the "employees carrying around the animals to be pet lacked basic animal knowledge, etc.

Following are excerpts (copy/paste) from the petition mentioned above:

"SeaQuest's Interactive Aquarium is a deep concern for citizens across Sacramento County and the surrounding region. We believe that the welfare of their marine life, birds and other animals will be put at risk, and have reason to be concerned for the safety of consumers, as well as the reputation Sacramento has for being a forward thinking and ethical community. 

There is a documented history of criminal convictions involving lying to investors linked to SeaQuest Interactive founder Vince Covino, and the illegal acquirement and trade of exotic animals at a previous Aquarium owned and operated by the Convino Family. Employee and customer safety marks from OSHA are on record, as well as eye witness testimony of abuse and intentional neglect of their animals in captivity.

SeaQuest Interactive has an unusually high mortality rate compared to averages across the country, and the company is not a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) OR the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) - organizations who's primary goal is representing zoos and aquariums who meet the highest of standards in animal conservation, research and education. 

A Timeline of Offenses and Eye-Witness Accounts:

*Note: While Ammon Covino is not a current owner of SeaQuest Interactive, he violated his probation by helping his brother Vince in the opening of new SeaQuest locations. 

·        2013: Ammon Covino sentenced to 8 months in prison plus two years of probation by federal court for conspiring with a fellow Idaho Aquarium co-founder to purchase illegally harvested rays and lemon sharks.

 ·       2013: Employees of the Portland Aquarium report the death of over 200 animals due to neglect. In addition to several severe OSHA violations.

 ·       2015: Ammon Covino Supervised release is revoked due to a violation of a condition of his release by continuing to engage in the procurement and sale of wildlife. Covino also failed to "answer truthfully all inquiries by his probation officer". He was arrested and sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

·       2016: Second arrest warrant issued for Ammon Covino for "failing to abstain from engaging in activity that involves exhibiting, importing, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring or purchasing ... fish or wildlife."

·       2017: Vincenzo Covino fined $5,000 for failing to disclose to potential investors in a new aquarium that previous disciplinary actions were taken against him after it was ruled that he had borrowed money from a client to purchase a home in 2011.

 ·       2017: SeaQuest Las Vegas manager accuses company of mistreatment of animals, sometimes leading to death. Instances include withholding food from animals in order to get them to "perform" in front of guests.

We believe that Sacramento is a fantastic community, full of hardworking people who respect the foundation upon which this city was built: Innovation, entrepreneurship, and curiosity about the natural world around us. As a collective we pride ourselves on supporting ethical businesses that bring revenue to the area while educating the public. The Interactive Aquarium by SeaQuest does not meet Sacramento's, or the city of Folsom's standards. 

Please sign this petition if you feel that a more ethically responsible tenant would be better for our growing community.

Article on SeaQuest 2017

Article on Covino Criminal Activity 2017

You can find updates to this petition and get more involved on Facebook at: Stop SeaQuest Folsom

#StopSeaQuestFolsom #NoToSeaQuest

Don't be captivated by their captivity.

(end of excerpts)