SeaQuest Interactive Aquariums, branded as SeaQuest, is an Idaho-based interactive marine life attraction chain. It features animal touch tanks and marine-themed children's birthday parties at shopping malls throughout the United States. The company has locations in Utah, Texas, Las Vegas, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, Virginia and Florida. As of 2020, it has plans to open new facilities in Florida. The franchise is owned and operated by Vince Covino, the brother of convicted poacher Ammon Covino. None of the aquariums are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
History
SeaQuest was established in 2015 by the Idaho-based Covino brothers, Ammon and Vince. Prior to the launch of SeaQuest, the Covino brothers opened several standalone aquariums beginning with the Idaho Aquarium in 2011, Portland Aquarium in 2012, the Austin Aquarium in 2013 and the San Antonio Aquarium in 2014. SeaQuest provides an interactive experience for visitors by allowing guests the option to touch fish through open tanks, as well as holding and feeding animals in close proximity. Although similar to its sister aquariums, SeaQuest locations are usually housed within shopping malls. In 2013, Ammon Covino was found guilty of poaching animals off the shore of the Florida Keys, leaving Vince Covino to be the CEO of the business.
SeaQuest has been subject of numerous violations and controversies at various locations. This list does not include violations and controversies at Covino's other aquarium businesses in Austin, San Antonio, and the former location in Portland, Oregon.
Littleton, Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife suspended SeaQuest's exhibitor's license for two years due to an abundance of egregious violations related to the animal's welfare at the facility.
In 2019, a sloth named Flash was burned by a heat lamp on two occasions resulting in significant burns to its face. The employee responsible for the animal's care was charged with cruelty-to-animals, but was found not guilty.
In 2018, Colorado Parks and Wildlife cited and fined SeaQuest for failing to report the death of a regulated kookaburra and issued warnings for the unlawful importation and possession of six wood ducks, unlawful importation of a caiman and wallaby, five counts of failing to report injuries to humans, and failing to report the deaths of 250 trout.
In 2018, SeaQuest also failed a Colorado Department of Agriculture pre-license inspection. Issues included illegal transfer of koi fish, unsanitary conditions, and allowing visitors to walk through the aviary while birds were grounded, creating a precarious environment where the birds were vulnerable to being stepped on.
Additional events in 2018 included SeaQuest storing approximately 80 parakeets in an underage teenager's garage after the company was ordered to shut down the interactive aviary, and a state fine for SeaQuest's unlawful procurement of a two-toed sloth and failure to obtain an appropriate license for the animal.
Approximately 30 injuries involving animal-to-human bites were also reported to occur between June 2018 and January 2019.
In 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture cited SeaQuest for failing to reduce the risk of injury to visitors during public encounters with an Asian small-claw otter.
In addition to violations, SeaQuest has been subject to considerable boycott and protests by many animal-rights advocates such as actor Alec Baldwin who blocked an aquarium from being constructed on Long Island.
