Betty McCollum
04/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/09/2024 16:04
McCollum Requests USDA Investigation into Local Aquarium Regarding Animal Welfare Act Enforcement Concerns
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) has sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting the agency investigate SeaQuest, a USDA-licensed facility with a location in Roseville, Minnesota. The facility has been the subject of ABC Newsand KSTP-TVinvestigative reports uncovering allegations of animal mistreatment as well as employee and guest safety concerns.
In the letter, Congresswoman McCollum writes:
"My office has become aware of reports documenting substantial violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) taking place at a USDA licensed facility in the fourth Congressional District of Minnesota. I write to elevate these concerns within your office and to ensure that this case is investigated fully and treated as an utmost priority by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Animal Care division..."…The primary Congressional intent of the AWA is to ensure these licensed facilities provide humane care and treatment of the animals under their care, but it also requires those animals to be "free of any infectious disease or physical abnormality which would endanger the animal(s) or other animals or endanger public health." The facility that I am reaching out to you about appears to be regularly endangering both the animals in its care and members of the public who interact with these animals…
"…The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plays a vital [role] in safeguarding animal welfare. However, limitations in enforcement of the AWA by APHIS is allowing facilities, like those run by SeaQuest, to flagrantly violate regulations while retaining USDA licensure to own and exhibit wild animals. The USDA is doing essential groundwork as it prepares to issue a rule on "Wild and Exotic Animal Handling, Training of Personnel Involved With Public Handling of Wild and Exotic Animals, and Environmental Enrichment for Species." I expect that the Department will expeditiously collect public input, with a particular effort to hear from animal welfare and health experts, and finalize this rule."
Congresswoman McCollum also urges the agency to propose a rule to regulate the care and exhibition of cold-blooded animals not covered under the Animal Welfare Act, and urges the agency to submit higher funding requests if necessary to achieve this goal. She requests updates and additional feedback about how Congress can support USDA in its responsibility to protect public health and animal welfare.
The full text of the letter is available here.
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