Feds punish Mystic Aquarium for abusing beluga whales
Michael Budkie
The
Mystic Aquarium (aka Sea Research Foundation) has been slapped with a $12,200
federal fine by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for animal abuse and breaking
federal law, according to a national watchdog, which filed a federal complaint
leading to the penalty. 
Photo by Will Collette. I took my grandniece to see the Belugas at Mystic
The fine document is posted at: https://saenonline.org/news-media-news-2024/Sea-Research-Foundation-Fine-8-13-24.html
SAEN, a non-profit Ohio-based non-governmental watchdog that monitors U.S. research facilities for illegal behavior and animal abuse, previously filed a federal complaint with the USDA regarding multiple federal Animal Welfare Act violations from the USDA.
The federal fine also addresses significant water quality issues that endangered the health of two other marine mammals, Jetta and Havana. Both of these whales were receiving veterinary care for multiple issues when the water quality issues were discovered.
The USDA fine penalized Mystic Aquarium for improper animal handling, inadequate veterinary care, and poor water quality in marine mammal enclosures, said SAEN.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Since hearing about the USDA investigation, I dropped coverage of Mystic from Progressive Charlestown. This, despite my appreciation of their marine animal rescue team that frequently uses Charlestown's beach to return healed sea creatures to their natural habitat. I think Mystic is wrong to put so much effort into making their aquarium a tourist and show-biz venue. The Beluga's in particular are very intelligent creatures and should not be cooped up in their relatively small tanks. Less show biz and more science, in my opinion. - Will Collette
According to the fine document, Mystic Aquarium staff failed to notify veterinarians of abnormal behavior in the hours before the death of the Beluga whale named “Havoc.”
The document states, “during Havok’s last eight hours 2151-0550, the facility's records noted at least . . . abnormal behaviors . . . 3 instances of ‘gaspy’ respirations beginning at 0413 hours, and 7 instances of water seen coming from his blowhole beginning at 0416 hours. There were also 10 instances of ‘active bleeding’ from Havok's rostrum recorded during the two hours prior to his death.
“This increased frequency of abnormal behaviors constitutes a problem; can indicate rapid deterioration of the animal’s health and may result in prolonged distress. Although staff members were recording their observations of Havok’s behaviors, the veterinarian was not contacted during this eight-hour timeframe until Havok’s death at 0550 hours.”
The failure of Mystic staff to contact a veterinarian during a period during which the Beluga was obviously in distress likely contributed to Havoc’s death.
“This facility should have received a much larger penalty,”
said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., executive director, SAEN. “These
violations contributed to the death of one animal and endangered two others,
potentially endangering their health.”