SeaQuest Trumbull Mall Location To Close This Weekend

TRUMBULL, CT — SeaQuest Connecticut, an interactive aquarium that has drawn criticism from animal rights activists and received citations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the past few years, announced Wednesday the company will close its Trumbull Mall location this weekend.

The SeaQuest website indicates the Trumbull location's last day of operation will be Sunday, after which the animals will be relocated to other SeaQuest locations.

SeaQuest also noted customers can purchase discounted items this week at the Trumbull gift shop and encouraged them to visit the company's nearby Woodbridge, N.J., location.

"SeaQuest is still going strong," a post on the website reads, "and will continue to operate in states that support our interactive business model so that we can create a fun and unforgettable experience for every guest by connecting them with amazing animals from all over the planet."

Annual pass members in Trumbull will have their passes extended for an additional year so they can make plans to enjoy the New Jersey location, according to SeaQuest.

"You can use the remaining prorated amount as a discount off anything in the gift shop or we will offer you a prorated refund based on what is left on your membership," the post reads.

SeaQuest offers customers a variety of activities involving enhanced interactions with sea creatures and other animals, including sea otters, sloths, stingrays and wallabies.

The facility, which opened at the mall in 2019, has faced accusations over the past few years related to its facilities, safety measures for guests and its treatment of the animals in its care.

Most recently, the Connecticut Post reports a USDA inspection report from June cited the facility for having what the department considered an insufficient barrier between families and wallabies at an exhibit.

A May inspection report also indicated a sugar glider bit a child during an interactive session, the Connecticut Post reports.

In 2021, The New Haven Register reported several violations were found at SeaQuest in Trumbull during an inspection by the USDA animal welfare division, including a child having suffered a minor injury after being bitten by an otter during a live feeding demonstration in July 2020.

See also: Child Bitten, Other Violations Found At SeaQuest Trumbull: Report

When the facility opened in 2019, animal rights activists rallied to have the interactive aquarium shut down, citing past allegations of animal cruelty and neglect at other SeaQuest locations, according to The Connecticut Post. Company officials have disputed these and other past allegations.

On Wednesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) celebrated the Trumbull facility's planned closure, saying in a statement that "This seedy facility will no longer exploit vulnerable animals for profit…" PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Michelle Sinnott said in statement release this week. "PETA is calling for the remaining animals to be transferred to reputable facilities and urging everyone to stay away from places like SeaQuest, which fail to give animals even the most basic care."

In addition to New Jersey, SeaQuest has locations in Virginia, California, Utah, Nevada, Texas, Colorado and Minnesota.

More information about the Trumbull location's closure is available here.