SeaWorld San Diego is once again at the center of controversy, this time facing a lawsuit that could force the 61-year-old theme park to rethink one of its long-standing traditions.
Located along the Mission Bay waterfront, SeaWorld San Diego has long been known for its mix of marine animal exhibits, thrilling rides, and educational programs. Since opening in 1964, the park has attracted millions of visitors with iconic dolphin shows, orca presentations, and interactive experiences aimed at fostering marine conservation.
And yet, SeaWorld San Diego has faced significant controversies in recent years, primarily surrounding its treatment of marine animals. The park’s practices, including orca breeding programs and captive animal shows, have drawn backlash from animal rights groups and the public.
Criticism intensified after the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which raised questions about the ethical implications of keeping orcas in captivity. These issues have prompted protests and calls for greater transparency, challenging SeaWorld’s reputation and forcing the company to adapt its business practices.
Beyond animal rights issues, the theme park – home to iconic rides such as Manta and Journey to Atlantis – has also faced legal complications. In December 2024, the park settled a dispute with the city of San Diego over claims that it failed to pay more than $12.2 million in rent, late fees, and interest during the pandemic. That same year, United Parks & Resorts—SeaWorld’s parent company—lost a legal battle with the owners of Sesame Street over millions in unpaid licensing fees linked to Sesame Place, SeaWorld, and Busch Gardens parks.
New Environmental Lawsuit Targets Fireworks
The latest blow comes from two environmental groups—San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF)—which have filed a lawsuit accusing SeaWorld of violating the federal Clean Water Act. According to the groups, the theme park has illegally released pollutants into Mission Bay during its fireworks shows.
The 39-page complaint outlines how SeaWorld allegedly breached its permit, which allows for up to 150 fireworks displays annually, by leaving paper, plastic, and metal debris in the bay. High levels of metal pollutants, including aluminum and copper, were also reportedly found in the water, which the lawsuit claims endanger marine life and deter public use of the bay.
San Diego Coastkeeper and CERF are asking the court to halt SeaWorld’s fireworks show until the park proves it can prevent further pollution.
“They would have to demonstrate that they can, at a minimum, do these shows in a way that does not pollute the bay,” said Phillip Musegaas, executive director of San Diego Coastkeeper, speaking to The San Diego Union-Tribune. “And that’s going to be hard for them, based on their history of not complying with this fireworks permit and just causing huge amounts of plastic pollution in the bay.”
The Impact on SeaWorld’s Future
While SeaWorld San Diego doesn’t host nightly fireworks shows like some other theme parks, it regularly schedules them during the summer and winter seasons. If the lawsuit succeeds, these displays could be put on hold indefinitely.
A dive inspection conducted by CERF in October 2024 reportedly revealed fireworks debris littering the seafloor. The complaint states divers found “numerous” exposed wires, ignitors, and cross matches with sharp ends beneath the water. “What we’re seeing is a lot of plastic debris mixed in with the seaweed that’s along the shoreline,” Musegaas added. “It’s kind of caught up in the seaweed and the algae, and as you walk along the edge of the beach on Fiesta Island, you’ll see it along the line of where the tide came in.”
This isn’t the first time SeaWorld has faced criticism for its pyrotechnic displays. In 2023, the San Diego Audubon Society publicly condemned the park’s fireworks for their impact on local bird populations. The group urged the California Coastal Commission to revoke SeaWorld’s fireworks permit during most of the breeding season after a surge in bird deaths.
The San Diego Audubon Society reported that dead unborn, chick, and adult elegant terns—a species categorized as “near threatened”—washed ashore at the Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve following a Fourth of July fireworks display. Over 500 pounds of pyrotechnics were detonated during the show, allegedly causing panic flights among flocks of 5,000 to 7,000 birds.
“It seems like the adult terns and chicks got scared off the island,” said Andrew Meyer, the society’s director of conservation. “And when chicks get scared, not being good flyers, they run in groups and probably pushed many eggs into the water.”
The group even provided photographic evidence to the Coastal Commission, capturing images of distressed birds, mass panic flights, and the aftermath of the event.
“There are so many reasons to not have fireworks shows,” Meyer added. “They’re being replaced by drone shows anyway that have less water quality, PTSD, and wildlife impacts.”
Interestingly, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi has already embraced this shift, hosting nightly drone shows instead of traditional fireworks.
Should SeaWorld San Diego hold onto its fireworks tradition, or is it time for a cleaner, quieter alternative?
