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<\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n CLEARWATER,\u00a0 Florida\u2013\u2013<\/strong>Fighting for economic survival,\u00a0 the Clearwater Marine Aquarium can be expected to call upon on Florida connections,\u00a0 including U.S. president Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis,\u00a0 to try to win a permit to import five bottlenose dolphins from the Attica Zoological Park in Athens, \u00a0Greece.<\/p>\n The dolphins from Greece would replenish a Clearwater Marine Aquarium population diminished from nine at peak in 2021 to just five over the past three years,\u00a0 and perhaps rebuild attendance and revenue,\u00a0 both in a deep dive.<\/p>\n <\/a> Ric O\u2019Barry at the Clearwater Aquarium.<\/strong><\/em> The 2021 completion of the $80 million Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex tripled the Clearwater Marine Aquarium dolphin habitat.<\/p>\n Expected to boost attendance and revenue,\u00a0 the new facilities instead became more of an anchor than a help.<\/p>\n Explained St. Pete Catalyst<\/em> writer Bill DeYoung on January 20, 2025.\u00a0 \u201cThe sudden, \u00a0unexpected death in November, 2021 of Winter, \u00a0the facility\u2019s star attraction, \u00a0caused a serious drop-off in attendance. \u00a0The bottlenose dolphin lost her tail flukes as a baby, \u00a0due to entanglement in crab trap ropes, \u00a0and had been successfully fitted with a prosthetic tail.<\/p>\n <\/a> Winter died in November 2021 at age 16.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cThe 2011 movie Dolphin Tale<\/em>, \u00a0filmed on location at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, was a worldwide success. \u00a0At the peak of Wintermania, more than 800,000 people passed through the turnstiles annually.\u201d<\/p>\n A 2014 sequel,\u00a0 Dolphin Tale 2<\/em>,\u00a0 though less popular,\u00a0 continued the momentum for a while.<\/p>\n But the $80 million expansion,\u00a0 the most obvious part of which was an enlarged restaurant and gift shop,\u00a0 ran up a significant debt.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the year ending September 30, \u00a02023,\u201d\u00a0 DeYoung wrote,\u00a0 the Clearwater Marine Aquarium reported $21,322,978 in revenue, \u00a0against $26,306,149 in expenses, \u00a0a net loss of nearly $5 million.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Looking for new money,\u00a0 the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in September 2024 applied to the Pinellas County Tourist Development Council for \u201c$9.8 million in bed tax money,\u201d\u00a0 reported Josh Rojas of BayNews9, \u00a0the local ABC affiliate.<\/p>\n The sought-after grant was to partially fund \u201ca $32 million multi-year [further] expansion plan,\u00a0 to include \u201chabitats for sea lions, \u00a0sharks, \u00a0albino alligators, \u00a0and penguins,\u201d\u00a0 Rojas detailed.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to qualify for the capital funding grant,\u201d\u00a0 explained Rojas, \u00a0\u201cthe aquarium must prove the new renovations will draw more visitors who spend the night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Said Clearwater Marine Aquarium chief operating officer Joe Handy, \u00a0\u201cThat number could be in excess of a 100% increase of our current attendance.\u00a0 So right now, \u00a0our attendance hovers at about just under 400,000 visitors per year.\u201d<\/p>\n That would actually be about half the attendance that the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has claimed in media statements since Winter was alive.<\/p>\n Just eight days later,\u00a0 DeYoung narrated,\u00a0 on September 24,\u00a0 2024 \u201cHurricane Helene sent four feet of water into the Clearwater Marine Aquarium buildings, \u00a0which abut Clearwater Bay.<\/p>\n <\/a> Helene and Ric O\u2019Barry in Greece at the Attica Zoological Park Zoo.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cChief biological officer James \u2018Buddy\u2019 Powell said the facility suffered \u2018catastrophic damage,\u2019 \u00a0and that \u2018most\u2019 of the facility\u2019s life support systems had been destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n Continued DeYoung on January 20,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 \u201cStill reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, administrators at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) have begun dramatic cost-saving measures,\u00a0 including the \u2018temporary furloughs\u2019\u00a0 of 22 full time and 28 part time employees, out of a combined staff of 175.<\/p>\n \u201cFacility leadership,\u00a0 including CEO Joe Handy,\u00a0 are taking salary reductions.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n With that catastrophe in the immediate background,\u00a0 along with the previous debt load,\u00a0 the Clearwater Marine Aquarium applied to import the five Attica Zoo dolphins from Greece,\u00a0 described by National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Fisheries as \u201cbetween the ages of 11 and 24 years, \u00a0all captive-born to individuals with multiple origins, \u00a0including the southeastern United States, \u00a0Cuba, \u00a0the Russian Federation, \u00a0and the Black Sea.<\/p>\n \u201cThe applicant has identified three of the animals as common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus<\/em>) and two as Black Sea bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus ponticus<\/em>),\u201d\u00a0 the permit application states.<\/p>\n The application was originally open to public comments only until February 3, \u00a02025,\u201d\u00a0 Dolphin Project founder Ric O\u2019Barry emailed to\u00a0ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe urge everyone to immediately voice opposition to this transfer,\u201d\u00a0 O\u2019Barry said.<\/p>\n [The public comment info & link are here:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/www.fisheries.noaa.gov\/action\/permit-application-import-5-bottlenose-dolphins-file-no-28233-clearwater-marine-aquarium<\/a>.]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Objected O\u2019Barry,\u00a0 \u201cClearwater Marine Aquarium is not a dolphin sanctuary, \u00a0other than in name,\u201d\u00a0 O\u2019Barry emphasized. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a huge concrete building with concrete and glass holding tanks inside the belly of the facility,\u201d\u00a0 dominated by a souvenir store and restaurant.<\/p>\n \u201cFlying the dolphins across the ocean is potentially dangerous for the dolphins, \u00a0and upon their arrival in Clearwater, \u00a0they will be placed in yet another concrete tank \u2014 a life sentence inside of a building,\u00a0 O\u2019Barry said.<\/p>\n \u201cA much more humane alternative,\u201d\u00a0 O\u2019Barry suggested, \u00a0\u201cwould be to take the dolphins directly to the Greek islands of Lipsi or Crete,\u201d\u00a0 a maximum distance of under 200 miles,\u00a0 \u201cwhere they can live out the rest of their lives in peace and dignity.<\/p>\n \u201cPlans are already underway to build two dolphin retirement facilities there,\u201d\u00a0 O\u2019Barry added,\u00a0 \u201cone in Lipsi, and the other in Crete. \u00a0Lipsi is farther along and could accommodate the Attica Zoo five dolphins on short notice, \u00a0if the Greek government would cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n (See Fly five dolphins from tanks in Greece to tanks in Florida? O\u2019Barry says no<\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n O\u2019Barry mentioned having already rehabilitated and released formerly captive dolphins successfully \u201cin Guatemala, \u00a0Nicaragua, \u00a0Colombia, \u00a0Brazil, Haiti and Indonesia.\u201d<\/p>\n The Attica Zoo appears to be divesting of dolphins in response to a multi-year Dolphin Project campaign,\u00a0 explained O\u2019Barry,\u00a0 which included planning for where the dolphins might go.<\/p>\n By January 23,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 O\u2019Barry\u2019s wife Helene O\u2019Barry emailed to ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong>,\u00a0 \u201cIt looks as though we now have 777 comments added, \u00a0which is great.\u00a0 However,\u201d\u00a0 she said,\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cI also noticed this morning that the comment deadline has been extended, not sure why.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a> Grigori Rasputin advises Donald Trump.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Indeed,\u00a0 the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Fisheries acknowledged,\u00a0 \u201cNOAA Fisheries received a request to extend the public comment period. \u00a0We are extending the public comment period for an additional 45 days. \u00a0Public comments will be accepted through March 20, 2025 at Regulations.gov. All comments received are a part of the public record.\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. government agencies often extend comment deadlines upon receiving a heavy volume of comments in response to a regulatory proposal.<\/p>\n That by itself tends to not mean much, \u00a0except that activists have more time to keep objections flowing.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n But now there is an additional complication.\u00a0 The incoming Donald Trump administration has put a freeze on practically all federal agencies\u2019 external communications until they get their own propaganda officers installed to control what the public knows about.<\/p>\n Based on the start of the previous Trump administration,\u00a0 2017-2021, \u00a0the second Trump administration may try to keep all actions of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, \u00a0U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, \u00a0and USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service completely under wraps for as long as possible.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Further,\u00a0 Donald Trump on January 24,\u00a0 2025 attempted to fire at least 12 departmental inspector generals.\u00a0 The inspector generals are the officers within each federal department who are entrusted with ensuring that correct administrative procedures are followed in all transactions,\u00a0 among other tasks pertaining to accountability.<\/p>\n Responded Hannibal \u201cMike\u201d Ware,\u00a0 chairperson of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity & Efficiency,\u00a0 \u201cI recommend that you [the Trump administration] reach out to White House Counsel to discuss your intended course of action.\u00a0 At this point,\u00a0 we do not believe the actions taken are legally sufficient to dismiss presidentially appointed,\u00a0 Senate confirmed inspectors general.<\/p>\n \u201cSpecifically,\u00a0 based upon the 2022 amendments to the Inspector General Act of 1978,\u00a0 the President must notify Congress 30 days prior to removal of an Inspector General and provide \u2018substantive rationale,\u00a0 including detained and case-specific reasons\u2019 for such removal.\u201d<\/p>\n Litigation appears certain to follow,\u00a0 during which time any department administrative actions,\u00a0 such as approving a dolphin import permit,\u00a0 may be both delayed and subject to political tampering.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Attica Zoological Park Zoo photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n Meanwhile,\u00a0 Helene O\u2019Barry told ANIMALS 24-7,<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cIf I\u2019m correct, \u00a0there are seven dolphins in total at Attica Zoo.\u00a0 The other two are the offspring\u00a0of dolphins that Jay Sweeney and Gene Hamilton captured in Florida several years ago. \u00a0They captured six, and one died. \u00a0The survivors were sent to Finland, \u00a0after being stored and trained at the Dolphin Research Center,\u201d\u00a0 in Grassy Key,\u00a0 Florida.<\/p>\n \u201cIn 2016,\u201d\u00a0 Helene O\u2019Barry continued, \u00a0\u201cthe dolphinarium in Finland closed due to declining ticket sales, \u00a0and the dolphins were shipped to the Attica Zoo.\u201d<\/p>\n Updated Helene O\u2019Barry,\u00a0 minutes later,\u00a0 \u201cNow it looks as if there are nine dolphins at Attica Zoo, according to CetaBase.org<\/a>.\u00a0 If there are nine dolphins there, where on Earth are they planning to send the other four?<\/p>\n \u201cAccording to the permit application,\u00a0 Attica Zoo wants to remove the dolphin exhibit permanently from its collections,\u201d\u00a0 in belated compliance with Greek legislation adopted in 2012.<\/p>\n <\/a> (Beth Clifton collage) <\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy later in 2012 fined the Attica Zoo 44,360 euros continuing to offer dolphin shows, \u00a0and on March 13, 2020, \u00a0finally revoked the zoo\u2019s permit to operate a dolphinarium.<\/p>\n Litigation continued,\u00a0 reported Skye Wardle on the Animal Action Greece website,\u00a0 until in October 2023 \u201cthe owners of the Attica Zoological Park, based in the suburb of Spata outside Athens, \u00a0were found guilty of conducting illegal shows involving dolphins,\u201d\u00a0 and \u201cwere sentenced to eight months [in prison] with a three-year suspension for the illegal use of animals.\u201d<\/p>\nDolphin stock depleted, Clearwater Marine Aquarium counts on\u00a0 five from Greece to rebuild tourism<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
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(Dolphin Project photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n$80 million expansion chained aquarium to an anchor<\/h2>\n
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(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n\u201cWintermania\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nPenguins in Florida?<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nTwice as many visitors?<\/h2>\n
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(Helene O\u2019Barry photo)<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\nStaff cuts<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nAttica Zoo dolphins to the rescue?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nHumane alternative<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\u201c777 comments added\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nTrump administration brings complication<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nFreeze on federal agency communications<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nInspector generals<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMore dolphins in Attica<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nFined<\/h2>\n