Gulf World
Gulf World is a roadside attraction in Panama Beach, Florida. This park has been dealing with broken filtration systems, algae-infested pools shedding debris, and animals are dying here at a rapid rate
In October 2024 dolphins Gus, Turk and Nate died in a week, likely due to inadequate precautions during construction of a nearby Top Golf location. A month later, the filtration system for the dolphins broke. On March 1, 2025 a fourth dolphin, Jett, died during a show when he was performing a jump and landed in the shallow part of the tank, breaking his neck. And that’s just a fraction of what’s going on behind the closed doors.
In March 2025, TideBreakers visited the park—and what we were shocked by the conditions were even worse in person. Inside the facility, we gathered extensive evidence, which became the foundation of our campaign just days later. The footage went viral, and within weeks, Gulf World was raided by local, state and federal authorities. Investigations are ongoing.
Gulf World Marine Park is one of four parks owned by The Dolphin Company in Florida. The Dolphin Company operates three other parks in Florida: Marineland (built in 1938), the Miami Seaquarium (built in 1955) and Dolphin Connection (built in 1990).
In addition to conditions that are not safe for animals, the Seaquarium and Gulf World reportedly have condemned buildings that are not safe for the public. The Dolphin Company convinced the public they were retiring their only orca, Tokitae, to a sanctuary across the country in 2023. Instead it kept her in an allegedly illegal, crumbling and leaking tank at the Miami Seaquarium.
Timeline
these are just some of the major milestones in Gulf World’s animal abuse
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2015 – Gulf World purchased by The Dolphin Company
and things start turning south
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September 2018: Angel, a bottlenose dolphin, dies of mucormycosis
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January 2023: PCB condemns the sea lion stadium and gift shop
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May 2024: Sheldon, a harbour seal dies
GW/TDC doesn’t report a COD to NOAA until December after numerous complaints to various agencies
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October 4, 2024: GUS, 14 year old bottlenose dolphin dies
reported to NOAA as euthanasia for life threatening condition
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October 7, 2024: Turk, 15 year old bottlenose dolphin dies
reported to NOAA as bacterial lung disease
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October 11, 2024: Nate, 20 year old bottlenose dolphin dies
reported to NOAA as systemic infection
*the 3 were housed together in the tank on the west side, closest to the construction of the Top Golf which had recently broken ground in September
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March 1, 2025: Jett, a 14 year old bottlenose dolphin breaks his neck
when during a show he’s sent on a jump and lands in the shallow portion of the tank. Official cause of death: Head trauma
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March 16, 2025: TideBreakers enter the facility to gather evidence
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March 18, 2025: TideBreakers publish the first video exposing the horrific conditions.
The campaign starts going viral. We start working with the authorities.
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March 24, 2025: PCB Police announce investigation of Gulf World
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March 27, 2025: FDLE and FWC executed a search warrant
at direction of Attorney General James Uthmeier. USDA also present
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March 31, 2025: TDC files for Chapter 11 bancruptsy in USA
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May 27, 2025: Samira, 9 year old bottlenose dolphin dies!
Marking 5 dolphin deaths in less than 8 months at Gulf World.
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May 30, 2025: The Florida Attorney General’s office launches a criminal investigation into The Dolphin Company.
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June 4, 2025: 4 rough tooth dolphins are removed from Gulf World
and transported to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Our standpoint
We are actively working with local, state and federal officials and we won’t stop monitoring the situation until Gulf World is shut down and the animals are moved to safety.
While we are staunchly against captivity, we understand that there are no sanctuaries for the animals at Gulf World to be relocated in North America, and they cannot wait until such option is available. They would die. As of right now they need to be moved to a clean and safe facilities that can properly care for them.
We will continue to push for sanctuaries to be built where captive marine mammals can be retired. But right now, if the dolphins at Gulf World are to survive, they must be rescued and relocated immediately!
