Mystic Aquarium Fined $12,200 in Beluga Whale Care Investigation

Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut has agreed to pay a $12,200 fine to settle a federal investigation into alleged animal care and water quality violations. This decision comes in the wake of the deaths of three beluga whales at the facility in recent years. The aquarium, while accepting the settlement terms, neither admits nor denies the accusations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed the settlement on August 13, 2024, following an investigation into the care of the beluga whales. The aquarium's spokesperson confirmed their agreement to the conditions on September 18, 2024, emphasizing that there was disagreement over whether violations actually occurred.

Meagan Seacor, vice president of external relations for the aquarium, stated that the alleged violations cited by the Department of Agriculture did not contribute to the deaths of the three whales. She explained that the whales had pre-existing health problems that were not detectable before their arrival in Mystic.

The three deceased whales were part of a group of five transferred to Mystic Aquarium in 2021 from Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This transfer occurred after a prolonged legal battle to obtain necessary permits from both U.S. and Canadian authorities.

The timeline of the whale deaths is as follows:
1. August 2021: A 5-year-old male named Havok died from an intestinal disease
2. 2022: A female named Havana passed away
3. 2023: Another female, Kharabali, died

Both female whales succumbed to storage disease, a condition that can damage the brain, spinal cord, and other body areas. Aquarium officials maintain that all three whales' health problems were genetic and incurable.

The Department of Agriculture's investigation highlighted several concerns:
- Alleged failure to call for veterinary care in Havok's final hours despite observed distress
- Two incidents in June 2021 where Havok, who had vision problems, sustained injuries
- High levels of coliform bacteria detected in the beluga whale pools in late 2021

Seacor explained that the high bacteria levels resulted from a brief equipment malfunction, which was promptly addressed. She emphasized that there have been no similar issues since.

The aquarium's decision to settle was primarily to avoid costly litigation in challenging the alleged violations. Seacor stated, "While we respectfully disagree with the USDA's assertions, settling this case allows us to stay focused on our core mission: caring for the animals at Mystic Aquarium and inspiring people to protect marine life."

Animal advocacy groups have been closely monitoring the situation. Naomi Rose, senior scientist for marine mammal biology at the Animal Welfare Institute, expressed concern about the aquarium's handling of the whales, stating, "Personally — that's just me as a professional animal advocate — I think Mystic made a huge number of mistakes."

Beluga whales, known for their distinctive white coloration, are fascinating marine mammals. These "sea canaries" are highly social creatures, living in pods of 2 to 25 individuals. They are the only cetaceans capable of moving their necks in all directions and can even swim backwards. Belugas lack a dorsal fin, an adaptation for swimming under Arctic ice, and have a thick blubber layer comprising up to 40% of their body weight.

Currently, Mystic Aquarium houses five beluga whales in pools containing a total of 750,000 gallons (2.8 million liters) of water. The global population of beluga whales is estimated at around 150,000, with some populations considered threatened or endangered due to human activities.

As the aquarium moves forward from this settlement, the focus remains on providing optimal care for its remaining beluga whales and continuing its mission of marine life conservation and education.

[[Animal Welfare Institute Senior Scientist]]

"Personally — that's just me as a professional animal advocate — I think Mystic made a huge number of mistakes. And I really would like them to get more than a slap on the wrist, which in some ways this is."