Latest news with #AMMPA
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gulf World loses International Alliance Accreditation
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The alliance of marine mammal parks and aquariums, or AMMPA is an association that acts as a sanctioning body for marine parks worldwide. AMMPA lists 26 accredited parks in the US, nine of them in Florida. Gulf World Marine Park is no longer one of them. Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach is a completely separate facility from Gulf World. It's been accredited through AMMPA for almost 15 years. 'The alliance enables us to reach for the gold standard of animal care and welfare, taking that knowledge and best practices of so many organizations throughout the world that care for marine mammals and be able to implement those,' Gulfarium Director Patrick Berry said. AMMPA's website claims the alliance has the 'most comprehensive and stringent' accreditation standards. Facilities must pass the requirements every five years, which involves a multi-day, on-site inspection. Gulf World has filed for bankruptcy The list of inspection requirements is long and covers just about everything in a marine park, including animal health and welfare, public interaction programs, and record keeping. 'They're extremely thorough. There's 11 different sections in our standards guidelines, and within each of those sections, they're broken down into even finer details of what standards we need to follow. So it's a very detailed, very scrutinized accreditation inspection,' Berry said. It is unclear whether Gulf World failed the inspection, opted out of renewing, or had the accreditation removed. Gulf World first came under fire in March after a dolphin died during a public show, the fourth in less than six months. Drone videos posted online show dark, murky, algae-filled pools where dolphins are still housed. The park remains open to the public and as of April 24th, they're still offering dolphin encounter experiences. Gulf World and owners, The Dolphin Company, have remained tight-lipped about operations, and have refused to return any of News13's calls or emails. Last month, Gulf World filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in federal court, gutted the leadership staff, and hired a restructuring team. That team has also failed to return News13's communication attempts. The bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Al Bawaba
09-04-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center Awarded Prestigious AMMPA Accreditation
SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the world's largest indoor Marine Life Theme Park, along with the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, the region's largest dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation, and return facility, have become the first facilities in the MENA region to receive accreditation from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), joining its sister SeaWorld parks in the US. This accreditation places SeaWorld Abu Dhabi among a distinguished group of institutions that meet and exceed the world's most rigorous standards in animal welfare, veterinary care, habitat quality, training and conservation. AMMPA is a global body dedicated to the highest standards of care for marine mammals in parks, aquariums and zoos. AMMPA-accredited facilities play a vital role in marine animal rescue, research, and public education, ensuring the well-being of animals such as sea lions, dolphins and sea turtles. Rob Yordi, Zoological Vice President and General Curator at SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and Yas SeaWorld Research and Rescue Center, said: 'We are incredibly proud to receive accreditation from the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, a testament to our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of animal care, conservation and education. This milestone reflects the dedication of our entire team to providing a world-class environment for marine life while inspiring our guests to protect our ocean. We remain committed to advancing marine conservation efforts and ensuring the well-being of the incredible animals in our care.' Widely recognized as the most comprehensive and stringent in the world for marine mammal care, AMMPA accredited facilities need to prove various aspects of animal welfare, including optimal veterinary care, positive reinforcement training and environmental enrichment to support well-being. Facilities must also maintain high water quality and habitat conditions, ensure responsible breeding and population management, and uphold safe and humane transportation practices. Additionally, accredited institutions contribute to scientific research and conservation efforts while providing educational programs that promote public awareness of marine conservation. Adding to this recognition, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi and the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center are also the region's first facilities to be certified by Global Humane, the world's largest certifier of animal welfare and the region's third facilities to earn the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) accreditation. Representing the next generation of zoological care. This highlights their commitment to upholding the highest standards in marine animal care and conservation. For more information on SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and the Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue Center, please visit the website at
