The 17 dolphins of Marineland, St. Augustine, Florida are in danger of losing their iconic home, a National Historic Landmark.
We believe that the value of nationally historic Marineland as the dolphins' home, cannot be measured in dollars alone.
There are 3 generations of dolphins living at Marineland, some were born there, others were rescued. They cannot be released into the wild and the remaining dolphin habitats in the United States have little room for them. We are told that there is a likelihood that these dolphins would be shipped off to the Middle East as part of a new attraction there, because there is not sufficient room for them in the United States.
A few of the dolphins you'll be helping.
Will you please take action to speak out for the dolphins at Marineland Florida?
We believe the best option for these dolphins is to keep their current home with their family and friends.
Marineland has a highly successful record of dolphins living very long lives in this habitat and is the birthplace of much of the world's current knowledge about dolphins!
The dolphins at Marineland already have deep bonds with each other and with their human caretakers who have dedicated their lives to them.
Our new community coalition, Save Marineland Dolphins, includes marine mammal specialists already familiar with these dolphins, as well as experienced dolphin researchers. Our team has obtained private funding of $4 million to purchase the facility. The real estate developers are offering $7.1 million for the narrow strip of beachfront land of Marineland. We believe the value of Marineland cannot be measured in dollars alone.
You can help the dolphins now by writing an objection to the federal court (see details below). Ask that the court weigh heavily in favor of allowing our nonprofit coalition to purchase Marineland and expand upon its legacy as an iconic dolphin habitat. We'll be improving the lives of the dolphins with our specialized evolving enrichment program, designed to ultimately allow the dolphins to direct the daily programs.
Recognized as the world’s first oceanarium and dolphinarium, many people in Florida and beyond say their first connection to dolphins was at Marineland. Generations of dedicated conservationists and scientists launched their illustrious research careers at this historic park. Marineland has educated millions of guests about dolphins, turtles, coral reefs and other marine life conservation.
Real estate developers have submitted an offer to purchase the land at Marineland, Florida, during a bankruptcy auction a week ago. However the bankruptcy court judge has the choice on whether to finalize the transaction or not on Oct. 27. That's where you can help!
This iconic dolphin habitat is officially recognized for its significance in American history on the National Register of Historic Places.
Steps for you to take right now to help the dolphins:
In order for the judge to take each letter seriously, it is best if the letters are not exact copies of the same text, so please take a few minutes to make good use of the following points but customize them in your words when possible. This will indicate to the judge that you are a real person and not just an AI bot. Please print and sign your letter and get it in the postal mail immediately. This is how the court has specified it will accept your comments. Remember we need to have your letter at the court by Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
1.) Address your letters to:
Honorable Judge L. Silverstein
Case No. 25-10606 (LSS).
824 North Market St., 6th Floor,
Wilmington, DE 19801
2.) Ask the judge to protect the Marineland dolphins and their historic home by NOT approving the currently proposed sale from the auction on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. Ask the judge to weigh heavily on protecting the dolphins, keeping them in their current home at Marineland with their current caretakers, allowing our coalition to purchase the facility.
3.) Choose some or all of the following 5 facts listed below, placing them in your own order of importance and putting some of your own words around them, so the judge knows you are a real person who cares.
4.) Ask that your objection letter be read into the court record.
5.) Make whatever donation you can to help the Marineland Dolphins keep their home.
Marineland Facts for your letter
The future of Marineland Dolphin Adventures cannot be valued by dollars alone. I am asking the court to consider the best future of the dolphins and their connections to their human caretakers and their home. The current staff at the facility are already known to the dolphins and are the best choice for continuing to provide the best care for them.
Marineland has a highly successful record of dolphins living very long lives in that habitat. The dolphins living at Marineland, some of them for their entire lives deserve to stay in their bonded social groups with family ties, in the habitat they are accustomed to. Nellie, born at the facility in 1953, lived to be an astounding 61 years old and was a national icon. Her son, Sunny is 41 yrs old and still lives at Marineland, with his offspring Oli and Surge. Right now, the most senior dolphin living at Marineland is Betty, 54 yrs., who lives with both her daughter Dazzle, 36 yrs., and her granddaughter Casique 23 yrs. Other dolphin residents include Comet, now 20 yrs old, who was rescued after stranding alone as a calf in 2005 and has never been releasable, and Lightning, 47 yrs old, who was rescued from a gunshot wound in the wild in 1989.
Marineland Dolphin Adventures of St. Augustine is the first dolphinarium in the world (1938) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an important landmark globally, nationally, and regionally. This iconic home of the dolphins deserves protection.
As the first place for dolphins to live among humans, Marineland has played a major role in humanity discovering that dolphins are intelligent mammals and not just a big fish in the sea. Many important research projects have taken place at Marineland with new research already planned, including a game-changing evolving enrichment & communication interface for the dolphins.
Marineland has educated millions of guests about dolphins, turtles, coral reefs and other marine life conservation. Marineland continues to serve the community with important environmental stewardship education via their daily programs, field trips and popular summer camps for students.
Marineland's National and Global Impact and Legacy
Throughout its storied history, Marineland Dolphin Adventure (Marineland) park has been the site of much groundbreaking scientific discovery. These discoveries include: humans first learning how to care for dolphins, understanding dolphin anatomy, the first live birth of dolphins in human care, discovering that dolphins were intelligent and could learn behaviors, discovering dolphin echolocation, analyzing dolphin signature whistles, and much more. Marineland is the birthplace of dolphin research.
Marineland’s renown history is verified by its official listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since its opening in 1938 as Marineland Studios, when much of humanity still thought of dolphins as fish, it was the first to educate and inspire the public to care about dolphins, other marine life, and our oceans. The dolphin interaction programs at Marineland have facilitated more than 100,000 people meeting dolphins up close in meaningful ways.
When taking into consideration that an estimated 350,000* cetaceans (dolphins, whales and porpoises) are killed by industrial fishing boats each year, the important conservation role of Marineland cannot be overstated. (*Statistics from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2012 dolphin mortality study.) These sad figures do not include deaths by plastics, toxins, and other pollutants, nor does it include cetacean deaths by military and industrial sound pollution, and ship strikes common near busy ports.
Recognized as the world’s first oceanarium and dolphinarium, many people in Florida and beyond say their first connection to dolphins was at Marineland. Generations of dedicated conservationists and scientists launched their illustrious research careers at this historic park.
Through Marineland’s robust community outreach program, residents and global visitors from all walks of life have enjoyed learning about marine wildlife at this iconic institution. Marineland holds a unique and irreplaceable role for both the local community, as well as national and international visitors. As such, Marineland’s value as a historic community resource and cannot be measured in dollars alone.
Notable scientists and conservationists who conducted research at Marineland through the decades.
Marineland's legacy in marine research and conservation is undeniable, with many scientists and experts contributing to our current understanding of dolphins and other marine life. The facility has been the research site of highly notable conservationists and scientists like Jacques Costeau, Dr. John Lilly, Dr. Adam Pack, Dr. Arthur McBride, Adolph Frohn, Sam Gurin, Drs. Melba and David Caldwell, B.C. Townsend, Dr. Lou Herman, Dr. Ken Norris, Dr. Randy Wells, Dr. Doug Perrine, Dr. Jesse White, Dr. Greg Bossart, Dr. Robin Baird, Dr. Scott Kraus and the University of Florida.
The National Register of Historic Places recognizes Marineland's significance in American history, architecture, and culture.
· Listing Date: April 14, 1986 Reference Number: 86000831
Historic Name: Marine Studios
Current Name: Marineland Dolphin Adventure