Authorities Shut Down Dolphinarium at Hotel Barceló

Earlier this week, Mexico’s environmental enforcement agency, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) issued the permanent closure of the dolphinarium at Hotel Barceló in the Riviera Maya. The agency also revoked its legal registration as a facility authorized to manage captive wildlife.

The dolphinarium was operated by Tagepa S.A. de C.V. under the brand Dolphinaris.

Closure sign at dolphinarium, Hotel Barceló in the Riviera Maya. Credit: Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), Mexico

Dolphin Project spoke with Jessica Gonzalez Castro of Empty The Tanks México, who provided further details on the order.

“The resolution follows an official inspection and administrative procedure that revealed multiple serious violations of animal welfare laws, including: forced participation of dolphins under medical treatment in shows, failure to report dangerous incidents, overcrowded interactions, unauthorized acrobatics, lack of veterinary assessments, and inadequate water temperature control.”

Over the years, Empty the Tanks México has filed several complaints against the facility, including one in 2019 where a dolphin named Plata was being forced to perform while blind. Sadly, just a few months later, he died.

“This is the first time in México’s history that a dolphinarium has been permanently shut down by federal authorities for animal welfare violations. It sets a crucial precedent in a country that has one of the highest numbers of captive dolphins in the world.” ~ Jessica Gonzalez Castro, Empty The Tanks México

Dolphinarium at Hotel Barceló is permanently closed. Credit: Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), Mexico

Four surviving dolphins — Kai, Malú, Maty, and Náutica — remain inside the closed facility, which is no longer legally allowed to operate or hold wildlife. Empty the Tanks México will continue to monitor, expose and denounce other dolphinariums in the country, pushing for long-overdue reform and the eventual end of marine mammal captivity in Mexico.

Thank you to all the groups that are actively working to create a better future for the dolphins in Mexico, including Empty the Tanks México, Dolphin Freedom, Animal Heroes, Marea and Océanos De Vida Libre.

How You Can Help

Please consider sending a letter to the following, requesting that Kai, Malú, Maty, and Náutica be transferred to a proper sanctuary, where they can either live out the rest of their lives in peace and dignity (in a non-performing environment) or be rehabilitated for possible release:

• Dolphinaris: email: contactusakumal@dolphinaris.com or contactus@dolphinaris.com
  Website: https://www.dolphinaris.com/contactanos/
• AMHMAR (Mexican Association of Habitats for the Interaction and Exhibition of Marine Mammals): contacto@amhmar.org.mx
• Mexican authorities:SEMARNAT (Ministry of Environment): atencion.ciudadana@semarnat.gob.mx

Featured image: The dolphinarium at Hotel Barceló in the Riviera Maya has been permanently closed. Credit: Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), Mexico