Six months after ABC News exposed allegations of animal neglect and human injury at SeaQuest, Vince Covino, the CEO of the interactive aquarium chain, announced his resignation in a video released on Thursday.
Covino, who addressed employees in the three-minute clip, expressed his love for connecting animals and humans and mentioned he would be transitioning to a new role at another company, though he did not disclose further details.
He acknowledged the challenges the company has faced and expressed optimism about its future direction.
The Humane Society of the United States welcomed Covino’s departure but stressed that more action is needed to address the issues at SeaQuest. Laura Hagen, the Humane Society’s director of captive wildlife, criticized the company’s practices and called for substantial improvements beyond a change in leadership.
The scrutiny on SeaQuest has intensified, with recent violations and allegations, including a notice of violation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection detailing issues such as animal escapes and inadequate care.
The investigation also uncovered complaints from former employees about poor conditions and mismanagement.
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